Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-28


livious to those unfortunate ones who
did not possess the wealth, station and
varnish of the Podsnap blood | can
imagine Podsnap on hot day, Though
Dickens says nothing Of it, which is an
oversight in him. if accosted with the
remark, How this weather makes one
sweat retort with Indignation, "What,
sir Me StoeatI do not sweat, sir /
perspire, sir Plebans Sioeati Gentle
men perspire I" And turn into the
church, and walk, and march, and strut
he does all, in total contempt Of the
silver-tongued preachers eloquent pray
er-down to the uttermost length of the
richly carpeted aisle, and enters his vel
vet,cushioned pew, removes his shining
beaver, puts on his golden.rimmed eye
glass, opens his golden clasped bible,
covers it with his cambric handkerchief,
reclines against the cushioned back of
the pew, and casts his eye to the gallery
and back seats to observe the effect of
his veneerid polish on the awe stricken
plebians who have the temerity to visit
the same church that he does. This is
new phase of christianity that pays To
quote Carlyle, in his last essay, this is
universal shoddy and devils dust cum
ningly vanished over"
How prone the weaker are to emulate
their selfconstituted "superiors !" "It
is so nice to 60 to church when you
have something new to wear" is the
mental exclamation. 81 couldn't go
last Sunday, because my bonnet wasn't
at home. What q handsome man the
preacher is, and how splendidly he
talks. Don't you think my trail is be-
witching2 What fright that Miss
Flintwinch is, with her last years bonnet
and aimsy old mantle. | don't see how
such people can bear to 90 to church,
making a show of themselves in their
old clothes" 90, l haven't been to
church for long time. The times are
so hard that really cannot afford to
dress as / would wish to- And then they
have got a new preacher in place
of that splendid young Mr.. Dapper--a
horrid old.fashioned man, with con-
sumptive wife and nine children; and
they are too fond of passing the contri
button plate, for me. Then there is that
horrid, stuck.up Miss Flintwinch, pushed
herself into the choir. Because she has
got new purple silk dress and a
fashionable bonnet, she thinks to put on
airs Come to a pretty pass, indeed,
when honest Christians can t go to church
without these stuck up nobodies houting
their feathers in ones face l don't
know what the world is coming to- /
retire speechless, but mentally agreeing
that ! indeed do not know what the world
is coming to-"
To become q fashionable Christian in
these latter days, is only a matter of
pounds, shillings and pence, and fine
habit. And, then, l perceive that
proper arrangement of the feathers is
necessary to proper Christian congre-
CATION For, in the Puritan land of
shoddy gentility - down East 1T is
asserted that strangers are seated
according to their dress Moire antique
and honiton close to the pulpit musins
half way up the aisle, and last years
bonnets back by the door" So it is
only necessary to get into your proper
place, preserve sanctified countenance,
contribute your nickel, and you pass for
a Christian. If you cannot be a Pod
snap you can be a peacock. Selah
IUXYMON Roy