Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-05
Lies Pictures.

Forty dollars for this = and the lady bow
ed her head, and remained for some mo-
mcnts in thoughtful silence
Did you need it z asked low, tremu-
lous Voice; it was her aged mother who
spoke, and she felt compelled to answer
truthfully. What wonder is it that there
was strange sadness in her manner as she
said:
No, and besides can't afford it; but
yesterday Jane Archer came flirting in here
with a splendid silk, and was determined
not to be outdone.' Alas she Nigh, have
added, to rival her neighbor, she had sacri-
feed the actual comforts of life, for Mrs.
Hartwell was one of those persons whose
existence is continual struggle to keep
up appearances J Had you gone on anex-
ploring expedition through her house, you
would have aScertained that the money in
question might have been applied to many
better uses than the foolish purchase. which
she already half regretted Had you been
permitted to watch her closely for the next
two months, you would have seen that to
crafty her vanity, she had forced herself
to practice the strictest economy-to live
on scanty fair, and withhold from her only
servant the pittance for which she was real
ly suffering. Some, perhaps, may say that
she was actuated by weak and vain am
bition, and we will allow that opinion to be
correct. but we do not fully realize how
much the same prtty rivalry influences all
classes Of society, how many instances there
are on every hand.
Go down yonder narrow alley of our CITY,
where so many Of the poor have their mis-
erable abodes, and enter that dilapidated old
house, in which dozen families make their
homes. The staircase seems quite too frail
to support your weight, but yet venture to
ascend, and do not be disheartened in your
undertaking, you now aud then hear oaths
that make you shudder, or catch glimpses
of faces which will long haunt your memo
ry like troubled dream. There, glance
into that little room in the attic; it is in
deed dismal, dreary place, but that wretch
ed woman and her three children had lived
in it during all the storms of the autumn
and winter, and you may certainly linger
few moments. The cold, frosty air creeps
through the broken panes and numerous
crevices in the walls, yet there is only a
handful of Goals on the hearth stone, and
the faggot they are just fingng on the fire
is the last they have in the world. The
occupants of that cheerless apartment ex-
cite your sympathy at once for their mea-
gre apparel. and mnre than that lhAi- 4Li-.
ry and want. You ask the mother aues-
tion, and with the most passionate vehe-
mence she tells you that their last farthing
is gone, that they have not tasted bread for
two days, that they have begged in vain,
and have nothing before them but starva-
tion or theft. She relates passages in her
history that thrill you with their pathos,
but when you trace back their misfortuncs
: and sorrows to their cause, you will find
that the ambition to outshine others plung-
ed her into poverty and woe.
!, Take another instance: In yonder court
) room trial has been pending in which you
have been drerl" interested. A young man,
a clerk in one Of our large mercantile estab
{ li>hmenis, has been arragned on a chage Of
forgery. You have read much about the case
e in the papers, and one little circumstance con-
, nectrd with it has touched your heart. Ii is
briefly This: the other day. while the court was
q awaited the decision Of the jury, an elderly
i woman came 10 tering i'll the room. and. ma
e king her way through the crowd with much
K difficulty. obtained position near the pris-
!, oner at the bar. There she stood, as if fas.
: cinated TO the SPOT, till she heard the fore
s man of the jury utter the word, !" Guilty J!
S Then, with wild shrek. she sprang forward
J anG excL,iming, " God help me I! Oh, my
2 son !" fell sensee>s at he prisoners feet.
1f A tear gathers IT, Your eye. as you read
+ this, and lon feel intensely anxions TO know
: what could have tempted him I" to bring hi,
q mothers gray hairs with sorrow TO the grave.
q AT length to i,al his extravagant associates
k he committed the crime which has doomed
in him TO lonely Imprisonment for msny weary
ID years.
One more picture. At the corner Of thi
s' fashionable square stands an imposing man
lg sion, through whose lofty windows the gas
light pours in mellow CLEANS. Go in; you
- foot has seldom pressed softer carpets-you
y eye seldom seen richer drapery or costlie
cn mirrors. Those rare paintings are the mas
ch ter-pieces of Italian artists-that super
* statue was the work of a lifetime. Here
Ih everything to crafty the most fastidiou
in taste, but the owner of the mansion is pacin
mo- W anu ITO IKE mA0man, ana MS Vile
: . weeping as she never wcpt before. Woul
-. you know the secret of their agony? The
!, are penniless-riches have taken wings, an
u.s. they can only grieve over their distress. TT
to subject will be discussed tomorrow, o
no Change, and it will he said, No wond
.ep that he failed-he wanted to outshine eveI
he body in the city," All once more this pet
m. ambition has caused beggary and wretcbe
:. ness.
Ieir These are no fancy pietures-no basele
So creation of the brain; YOU may see the san
80, or similar instances wherever you go. To
certain degree, emulation is beneficial, bI
when it is perverted, it brings sorrow instei
en- ofjoy-adversity instead of prosperity al
t peace.
ned --eees
me- To PUT A WOMAN IN COOP SPIRITS
hef Take her to mlliner's store TO bng bO
me net. The manaeeress Of one of the most Q
Ihe tensive establishments in London, in t
,ast- course Of her evidence short lime since,
zen a case for breach Of promise declared Il
tlo ladies are always in good spirits when tll
ito'- 90 to the milliner's 10 buy bonnet Fl,
eur, we have a valuable recipe for those unfor
efed nate gentlemen whose ladies are troub
with the ennui, snllens, ponts, don't
ence very wells and other delightful feulinine
stitutions.