Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-11-02
EVENING STAR.
A GRAPHIC PORTRAIT

II title bestowed generally upon q stout gen
tieman, with pinguid complexion, plethor-
lc habit of body, a red face and a loud laugh,
whose chief business seems to be hanging
about baf-rooms, drinking at other peoples
expense, and in return telling broad stories,
enacting ludicrous pantomines and entertain.
ing circles of companions with such gossip and
tri1ing ss seems appropriate to the places he
frequents He is always an smisble man,
sometimes even a loveable ono in many res
poets but his convivial habits have long ago
overcome his better qualities and he now de-
votes himself entirely to their qualification
The Prince of Good Fellows should never be
seen before twelve o'clock In the day as up
to that time he is full of aches, sad, morose,
and nervous talks vaguely of illness and
death /; contemplates his finger maids, sighs
rubs his eyes, and yawns, and frequently gives
utterance to the sentiment that 1t is hard
world to live in, which it undoubtedly IL for
him. During this depression he resorts to al
cOholic stimulants to bring up his nerves, and
by dint of frequent rspetitions of the remedial
agent and frugal repast, eating standing
from the counter Of some bar, he succeeds in
restoring portion of the lost nervous energy,
and begins to come out quito strong about the
hour Of meridian. At this time he presents
tho appearance of a jovial, pleasant, happy
man, and so the superficial portion Of his ad-
mlrers deem him, some of them indeed going
30 far as to envy him his lot and wish they
were az contented as he.
At dinner the Prince Of Good Fellows IL
looked upon as most desirable companion.
He knows all the etiquette of the table, and
never commits any breach of the unities of
that place. He dresses a salad with exquisite
taste and cannot be deceived in wines He
tells you the history of the olive-which he
has accidently stumbled upon in Chambers
Miscellanies Of Household Words-and has a
pleasant anecdote to fill all the pauses Of con-
versation. The ladies fancy him very much.
for he is respectful, comedies every thing to
them, and defers to their judgment He does
not take much while they are at table, and
opens the door for their exit with infinite grace
Once they are gone he devotes himself to the
decanters, and the roars Of laughter that fol-
low the ladies up stairs are provoked by
smart joke Of his, which would not bear re-
petition in the drawing room. Still, he is not
vulgar, and really coarse witticism actually
otfends him; for he has delicate sensibilities,
and his broad style of humor Crews out of the
wine rather than naturally from his taste
Later in the evening, when he joins tho ladies
above stairs he is attentive and marked in bis
conduct towards them, turns their music ad-
justs the pianQ stool, and if he sees middle
aged spinster plain or q "slow'' one, neglec.
ted and playing wall-fower, he il peculiarly
attractive towards her, and bores himself, per.
Sometimes etyt ts rflnes f. &c Hs, us Ok ainsns
bachelor, but oftener he is a married man
with several children. His wife is rarely seen
in society, and her appearance is that Of one
out of health and much depressed in spirits
Her dresses are usually of a bygone style,
and, although neat, give evidence of rigid
economy, and many artihces to make the two
ends meet She takes the back Streets and
the less freque nted side of the way as she
walks abroad and takes special care to avoid
passing public places where she may meet the
gaze of her husbands friends. She walks
rapidly, with her head down, and in winter
draws her scanty shawl tight about her shoul-
ders, an uDgloved hand showing through the
opening in front. Occasionally she may be
met coming from market with little basket
meagerly stocked; but her husband seldom
dimes at home, and she economises in her table
expenses for he requires clean linen and neat
garments, and their purse will not afford sump-
tuous living.
To see him in his prime and glory you must
meet the Prime Of Good Fellows at an evening
party Of young men, when supper, and wine,
and cards, and loud talk, and merrment, are
the elements of the entertainment There he
comes out strongest; there his good fellowship
is most thoroughly developed; there he is in
his element aud to hear and see him one woI'd
say he was the happiest of men. The jokes,
the repartees, the mirth-moving narrations.
the wit and humor which abound, aided by
brilliant lights, sparkling silver and glass,
bright wines, cheerful countenaDces, and all
the accessories of such a time, give an air of
enjoyment and pleasure to the scene which
may we'll fascinate the experienced and pass
with them as real. But if they would know
the solemn truth, if they would know how
false and futile is all this mockery of happi-
ness, let them tarry till the evening is spent,
the lights out the wine drank up, the party
dispersed. Let them follow the Prince Of
Good Fellows to his home. Let them listen to
his half drunken mutterings as he pursues his
lonely way, and take heed of his self accusa-
tons, his bitter revilings, his reproaches, and
VOWS Of reformation. Let them enter with
him the cheerless house. where wife and little
ones are paying the penalty of his sin. Let
them see the misery those sins entail; the bit
ter, pinching, want that stares out from scanty
| beds, from empty supboards, from worn and
| tattered garments, from cherries CRATES and
x~ickless lamps. Let them watch the smile
that plays about the wan face of the Door ne
gleot,I, almost broken-hearted, wife, as she
Kisses lips that 80 lately joined in the ribaId
Ianoh ths drunken chorus. Let them watch
the deiection that settles upon the face of. the
Prince of Good Fellows az the excitement
wears off and the sad, bitter, truth takes pos
fsession of his mind-the plain, hard truth
that his good fellowship is killing him, bodily
and mentally-is beggarlng his family, and
dragging nown helpless woman and innocent
little children to depth from which they can
hardly hope to rise. Let them see the Good
| Fellow in the morning, as with shaky, nervous
| feebleness he attempts to attire himself for
another day of " "happiness;" see the efforts
] of the wife to make him smart and neat; hear
the whispered words of entreaty as he parts
from her upon the threshold, and the pledges
D ledges whispered back. Let them hear and
InoS
asst thinnest, most dslusive Of all shams is Ist
that popular ons, " The Prince of Good Eel
lows" ..
MORNONISN.
This absurd and besstly superstition has in