The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-21
THURSDAY, July 81. 1894.
MoW We TWRoW ounsrIvrs 40,


new WE THROW OURSELVES AWAY
When we know that the sun, beating will
midsummer intensity on foul cutters and pile
OF rOttiug Offal, produces noxious vapor.
laeen with the seeds Of disease and death
when the tenors Of the pestlence-summer
which swept over sister cities like a grel
shadow, are not yet entirely forgotten, ant
the anguish and lamentation have not Quilted
hearts and homes made desolate; when the
fairm0unt reservoirs are over1owing and the
supply Of water Is amply adequate to all our
wants, and we suffer the scavengers 10 lie
Idle, and gaze fir m day to day on filthy
streets and smell nolsome Odors, and with
wicked weakness trust to Providence to
carry US safely through the summer-we
throw ourselves away.
When we know that the sOlstical beams
drive dogs 10 madness; when we hear of
i've little children being bitten by one mad
brute, and Of men shooting reckless CANNES
In the streets; when we see every day lying
outst-etched in the blazing sunshine, vaga-
bond curs with infamed eyes and tongues,
and meet them prowling about with heads
trailing the hot earth; when, In spite of all
laws and dog-cltchcrs, we come across one
muxzled dog In ten-we throw ourselves
away. When we debar ourselves from com
forts and Qualifications for a whole year, and
hoard our surplus funds stingly, that we may
rush or with the crowd to summer hsunts OF
folly and dissipation; when we try steadfastly
70 show people at watering places that we
Arc just exactly as good as they are, and by
Issuing our orders In gruff tones OF dictation,
and keeping stiff upper lips and spending
money without economic scruples, imagine
we are raising general impression that we
are persons Of great consequence--we throw
OurselveSATay.
Wben We distress ourselves to know whether
spirits do really turn tables or communicate
with mortals, and become perplexed about
every insane Ism or ology which is spawned
by ignorance and assumption; when we
devote our funds and prayers and our mis-
sionaries TO heathen lands, while, in the
shadow Of our homes and noble temples of
learning and art and trade, there Is mental
and physical degradation and darkness de-
manding the first and most earnest care of
philanthropy throw ourselves away.
When youth spends his school and college
days In trying how not to learn his lessons, in
Sinking his duties, and negecting due culti-
Vation o; his mental powers; when he con-
ceives 1t to be very smart to drink liquor,
although II chokes and distresses him; and to
smoke cigars, although the fumes make him
BalloW and uncomfortably sick; and to play
cards, and to swear a great deal, and brag,
and 70 say impudent things to wiser heads
whose gray hairs he should respect; when he
devotes several hours a day to inducing pre-
mature beard on the face, while unreasonable
exhaustion overcOmes his frame-when ths
young man does this, he throws himself away
young woman throws herself away when
she "fnishes," at the Juvenile age of eighteen,
with q knowledge of enough French to under
stand Frenchy remarks which silly coxcombs
make In that privileged language, and enough
z Italian to be sble to follow an opera and to
sing GriGs full Of prolonged and trying trllls
and cadences; when she imagnes that coquet-
tish airs and arts will win true hearts, or con-
tinue TO charm alter freshness and viyacty
have deserted her; when she strives to be a
boasts that she never touches needle or
ineads dough.
We throw ourselves away when we act
ul.On tie belief chat We are placed upon the
earth with no higher aims than money
making, and allow our hearts to grow weedy
With woildliness; when we trample down and
stiae the generous and lofty impulses OF our
natures, and are contented to be gossips, and
sanderers, and toadies; when we accept un-
hes!tatingly the opinions Of others, and are
too cowardly TO express our own; when we
grow unmindiul Of the blessings and Joys Of
lie, aud become sullen grunblers and hypo-
cl ondliacs; when we distrust our fellow-crea-
tures, and put them all down as knayes and
taitors; in fine, Whenever We forget what We
aic, Why We are, and whittier We are going,
" incontinently throw ourselves away.