The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-04-25

.eKEEEENEss MSA NEEIREeR1Ee. ?,

| IA ola family mansion, full otoid thugs OF 10
value except to the owner, as connected will
early associations and ancient friends, and
did not like Tie idea of converting it into
tavern or boarding house, rs is the fashion will
the young heirs Of the present day Such a;
1t was, however, although l sometimes felt 8
little like the ambitious snail, who once creep
| into Holsters shell and came near perishing
in a hard winter, l managed TO live in it fol
ten Or twelve years very comfortable, and tt
make both ends meet. My furniture, to b.
sure. was q little out Of fashion and here ant
there little out at the elbows; but l Away.
| persuaded myself that it was respectable to BIZ
out of fashion, and that new things snacked O
new men, and, therefore rather vulgar. Under
| this impression. I lived in my old house with my
old-fashioned, moderate-sized family, aud mod
crate means, envying nobody and indebted K
10 one in the world.
l had neither gilded furniture nor CRANE
mantle glasses, nor superb chandeliers; Their
had a few fine pictures and busts, and fatter
ed myself they were much more genteel thar
| gIloed furniture, grand mantle-g glasses and su
per5 chandeliers. In truth, l looked dowr
with contempt, not only on these but on al
those who did not agree with me in opinion.
never asked person to dinner the second time
who did not admire my busts and pictures, con
sidering him vulgar genius and an admirer o
| gil3ed trumpery.
| But let no man persume, after reading my
| story, to fatter himself that he is out of tEt
reacn of the infection of fashion and fashiona
bic opinions. lie may hold ont for a certain
time, prehaps, bat human nature can stanC
forever on the defensive. The example Of al
around US is irresistible sooner or later, The
tirstshock given to my attachment to respecta
BILE old-fashened furniture and respectable
four square double house, was received from
the elbow OF a modern worthy, who had grown
rich nobody knew how, bypresdiDg over the
| drawing of lotteries and who came and bull
himself a narrow four story house at the righ
side Of my feur square double mansion 1t had
white marble steps, white marble door and win
dow sills, folding doors and marble mantle
pieces, and was rs fine as fiddle in doors anc
out. 1t put my rusty old mansion quite ou
of countenance, as everybody told me, though
l assure my readers [ thought it excessively
tawdry and in bad taste.
But alas such is the stupidity Of mankind
Il could get nobody to agree with me.
What has come over your house lately {?
cried one good-natUred visitor; somehow il
don't look like it used to-
What makes your house look so rusty and old
fashionedl' said another good-natured visitor
MIR. Blankplize has taken the shine of you,
said Mrs. Sowerby; he has killed goWr h0Nse Z
Hereupon the spirit moved to go out and re
eonnoitre the venerable mansion. 1t certainly
did look little chubby, rusty, Old fashioned
quaker by the side of first rate dandy. I
picked quarrel with il outright, which, by the
way, was very unlucky quarrel. | was not
rich enough to pull it down and build new
one, and 1t WAS great folly to quarrel with an
house until you can geta better But if | can't
build, can paint, though |, and put good
face on the matter as this opulent lottery man,
my next door neighbor. Accordingly | con-
suited my wife on the subject, who whether
from spite of contradiction or to do her justice,
/ believe from correct and rational view of
The sabiect, discouraged my project I was
only the more determined. 50 | caused my
honest old house to be painted bright cream
color, that it might hold up its head against
the scurvy lottery man.
BLESS men quoth Mrs, Smith; what is the
matter with this room? II don't look as it
used to-
Why, what under the sun have you done to
this room?' cried Mrs. Brown.
Protect mel exclaimed Mrs White; why |
seem to have got into strange room. What
is the matterl'
You haze killed the inside Of yoar house .
said Mrs. Soweyby; by painting the outside
such bright color.
1t was too true; this was my first crime.
Would had stopped there but destiny de-
termined otherwise. 1t happened unfortunate
~ that my front pallor carpet was of yellow
ground. 1t was, to be sure, somewhat faded
by time and use, but it compcrted very well
with the unpretendiag soberity of the outside OF
my house, under the old regime But the case
was altered now and the bright cream color Of
the outside killed the dingy yellow carpet
within. SO | bought 4 new carpet of fine
orange ground, determined that this should not
be killed. 1t looked very fine and I was sat
isaed that 7 had done the business effectually
BLESS my sole !! cried Mrs. Smith, what 9
sweet, pretty carpet
Save us! exclaimed Mrs. Brown. 'why you
look as fine IS twopence.'
Protect usr cried Mrs. Sowerby, what a
fashionable affair Then casting a knowing
look around the room she added in a tone Of
hesitating candor, but don't you think some
how or other, 1t k3Jis tie curtains q
Another murder thoght |; wretch that I am
what have done? What is done cannot be un
done; but l can remedy the affair. So 1 bought
a new suit Of yellow curtains III twig Mrs
Sowerby now
Mrs. Sowerby came the very next day.
We'll I declare, now this Is charming
never saw more tasty curtains. But my dear
Mr.. Sobersides, somehow or other, don't yol
think they kin the wals?'
Murder again! -Four stone walls killed at ,
blow. But III get the better Of Mrs Sowerby
yet. So l got the colored as bright as the cur
tains, and babe her defiance in my heart tht
next time she came.
Mrs. 8owerby came as usual. Her whole
life was spent in visiting about everywhere
and putting people out OF conceit with them
selves.
She threw up her eyes and her hands. Well
[ declare, Mr., SobeTsides, you have done won
ders. This is the real French white, which
by the way, my unlearned readers should
know is yellow. But continued the pestilen
woman, don't you think these bright colore(
walls kill the chairs?'
Worse and worse, Here are twelve innocen
old arm chairs, with yellow stain bottoms ant
backs, murdered by four unfeeling Frencl
| white stone walls. But there is remedy 10
all such things but death. So forthwith pro
cured a new set Of chairs as yellow as custard
and snapped my fingers in triumph at Mrs Sow
! erby the next time she came.
But alas what are all the towering hopes 0
man. Dust, ashes, emptiness, nothing Mrs
Sowerby was not yet satisfied She though
the chairs beautiful
But then, dear friend, said she after an ap
palling pause, my friend those bright yellow
satin haze killed the picture frames
Aud SO they had, as dead as Julius Cesar
/
all my improvements. There was ne help fol
it, and away went the pictures to Messrs. Park
er q Clover. In good time they returned
| redeemed, regenerated, and disenthralled
was SO satisfied now that there was nothing lef
in my parlor to be killed, that could hardly
sleep that night, so impatient was to see Mrs
Sowerby.
The pestlent woman, when she came mex
day looked round in evident disappointment
but exclaimed with evident cordially:
We'll now, declare, It's all perfect; there is
not a hamdsomer room In town.
Thank heaven! thought i have committed
no more blunders.
But reckoned without my host. was
destined to 60 on numbering in spite of myself
The Spring was coming on, and the weather
being mild,the folding doors were open between
the frontand back parlors. This latter was fur
nished with green, somewhat faded confess.
had heretofore considered it the sanctum sane
forum of the establishment. 1t was only used
on extraordinary occasions, such as Christmas
and New Years, when all the family dined with
me, bringing their little children with them to
gormandize themselves sick. The room looked