Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-09-05
"NLLlNG, NO MCRDER.n
DY lanes X. PAuInINa-

4 an sober, middle aged, married esatls.
imam, OF moderate size; with moderate wishes.
land moderate means, moderate family, and
Ieverything moderate about me, except my
family. 1t is, however, or rather. Ala 4
twas, an old family mansion, full OF old things
Il OF DO value except to the owner, as connected
with early associations and ancient friends.
and l did not like the idea Of converting ii
into tavern or boarding house, q 10 the
& fashion with the young heirs Of the present
81 day. Such as it was, however, althoush 7
g sometimes felt like the ambitious snail. Who
once crept into q lobstsr's she'll and csms
near perishing in hard winter, I managed
% hive IN 1t tor ten or twelve years very com.
Portable, and to make both ends meet. nv
furniture, to be sure, was . little out Of fash.
lon and here and there little out at the
4 Eas respectable to be out of fashion. and that
new things smacked of new men, and, there
1 fore, rather vulgar Under this impreasion r
lived in my old house with my old-fashioned. 4.
i moderate-sized family, and moderate means
enVying nobody and indebted to no one In the
world.
had neither gilded furniture, nor grand
mantle glasses, nor superb chandeliers; then
had few fine pictures and busts, and DAT.
tered myself they were much more genteel
tasa gilded furniture, graad mantle glasses
and superb chandeliers. In truth, I looked
down with contempt, not only on these but on
all 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.
considering him vulgar genius and an ad.
mirer Of gilded trumpsry.
But let no man presume, after reading nv
story, te fatter himself that he Is out of the
reach Of the infection of fashion and fashiona.
Die opinions. He may hold out for certain
time, perhaps, but human nature can't stand
forever on the defensive. The example of all
around rs is irresistible sooner or later. The
erst shock given to my attachment to respec-
table oid-fashioned furniture and Q respects-
BILE four square double house, was received
from the elboS of modern worthy, who had
grown rich nobody knows how, by presiding
over the drawing of lotteries, and who came
sRd built himself narrow four story house at
the right side OF my four story double mansion
IL had white marble steps, white marble door
and window sills, folding doors and marble
mantle e-pieces, and was as ine a q fiddle in
doors and out. 1t put my rusty old mansion
quite out Of countenance, and everybody told
me, though assure my readers thought i,
excessively tawdry and in bad taste
But alas such is the stupidity Of mankind
II could get nobody to agree with ne
what nss como over ycur house lately ?"
cried one 90 1d-natured visitor, 'somehoE it
don't look like il used tor
What maxi your house lock % rusty and
o,d-fsshioned {" said another good n ssurcd
visitor.
"Mr. Blankprise has taken the shine of
you" said Mrs. Soxerby; RI, A4s k,lleG
yosr house ~ =
Hereupon the spirit moved me 10 70 out and
reconneitre the venerable mansion It certain
ly did look little chubby, rusty, old. fashion.
ed quaker by the side Of irst-rsts dandy. I
picked quarrel with 1t outright, which, BY
the way was very unlucky quarrel L was
not rich enough to pull 1t down and build
new one; and It was great folly to Quarrel
vitn an old house until you can get better.
But If can't build, can paint, thought ].
and put at least good face on the matter as
this opulens lottery man, my next door neigh
boz Accordingly consulted my wife on the
subject, who, whether from spirit Of contra.
diction, or to dc. her justice, I believe from a
correct and rational vfew Of the subject, dis
couraged my project. was only the more
determined. So 1 caused my honest old house
TO De painted bright cream color, that Ii
might hold up its head against the scurvy
"Blsss met" quoth Mrs. Smith; "whst IL
Ii used to-"
why, what under the sun have you done
10 this room 2" cried Mrs. Brown.
Protect, mel" exclaimed Mrs. White
WHY WY seem to have got into strange room.
"YoK Aars killed tic inside of your
hoxss! 20 said Mrs. Sowsrby; "by painting
the outside such bright color"
1t was too true; this vas my first crime.
Would had sopgcd thars but destiny de.
tsrminsd otherwts. Il happened unfortu-
nately that my front parlor carpet vas Of q vel.
low ground. It was, to bs sure, sonevhat
faded by time and use, but il oomportad very
We'll with the unpretanding aobrietY Of the
outside OF my house, under tho old regime"
But the case was altered now, and the bright
cream color Of the outSde 'killsd' the dingy
yellow carpet within. So bought nov osr-
pet Ok hne orange ground, determined that
tais should not be killed. It looked very fine
and was satisfied that had done the bud-
ness efsctually.
"Bless my soul :" cried Mrs. Smith, "vhst
sweet, pretty carpet"
Save us!p exclaimed Mrs. Brown, "why
you look As fine as twopence."
Protest US 20 cried Mrs. Sowerby, "what a
fashionable affair" Then casting . knowing
look around the room she added in q tone OF
hesitating candor, ''but don't you think some
how or other, 1t ktils tie euytoins ?n
Another murder. thought !; ; wretch that I
am, what have done? What II done cannot
oe undone; but can remedy the affair So 1
twig Mrs. Sowerby now. -
swell, declare, now this Is charming I |
never saw mere tasty curtains. But nv dear
Ar. Sobersides, somehow or other, don't you
think they kill the walls s'
Murder again. Four stone walls killed at
blow. Bat L III get the better of Mrs Sowerby
yet 80 l got the walls oolored a bright as
the curtains, and bade her defiance In nv
heart the next time she came
Mrs. Sowerby came as usual. Her whole
life was spent in visiting sbeut everywhere.
and putting people out Of eoncelt With them,
eslves.
She threw mp her eyes and her hands.
HWell declare Mr. Sobersidea vou have
done wonders. This is the real French white"
which, by the way, my unlearned readers
should know is yellow. But" continued the
Pestiisnt woman, 'don't you think these
bright colored walls Kill tie ekoiys ?"
Worse and worse. Here are twelve inno-
cent old arm chsirs, with yellow satin bottoms
and backs, murdered by four unfeelipg French
white stone walls. But there Is Q remedy for
all such things but death. So / forthwith pro-
cured a new set Of chairs as yellow as eustard,
aud mapped my fingers In triumph at Mrs.
Sovsrby the next time she came.