The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-03-11
MARGARET MERLYN.
WRITTEN FOR THE ST. CLOUD JOURNAL,
By MRS. JANE G. SWISSHELM.
CHAPTER XXI.
HON. MATHEW KENDON.

CHAPTER XXI.
HON. MATHEW KENDON.
On a street, one side of which was
bounded by the lake, and which was
handsomely paved and shaded by maple
and elm trees, stood the residence of
Judge Kendon. "Old Church Ave-
nue." was named in honor OF the singu-
lar rock which obtained for this city Of
the plain the questionably appropriate
cognomen of Arabia Petrea. Said
avenue was the West End, the Fifth
avenue Of the city. Its buildings all
evinccd wealth, and many of them re-
6ncment. Of the latter class was that
owned and occupied by Judge Kendon.
1t stood back, in an open lot, surround
ed by choice shrubbery. Tt was a large,
commodious, square building, three
stories high, affording an abundant sup.
ply of chamber room, the want of which
testi6es so conclusive]y to the lack of
cultivation in the owners and occupants
Of so many pretentious mansions. In
ouc present stage Of civilization, our
people are ambitious Of having large
drawing-rooms, double-parlors aud libra
ries aud this is decided advance on the
cabin, where the entire family cooked,
ate, sat and slept in one or two apart
ments. A next and equal stride, will
bring US to that indispensable condition
Of comfort and personal cultivation, a
chamber warmed and lighted, for each
member of the family, and a generous
surplus for guests.
Thereare contending factions in all the
afairs'of life, and the disputants in the
architectural department are Cornice vs.
House. A man can spend a given sum
in building residence. The question
at once comes up, how much Of that
sum shall 60 into the cornice, how
much into the house? Cornice too often
gets the lions share, and people consent
to sleep in pigion holes and try to
comfort themselves that outside is scme
bit of wood or stone work which is tie
admiration of all bcholders. Such ar.
chitecture is suitable accompaniment
to the dollar-a-yard trimmings with which
our women bcdizen their twenty-five cent
delainc dresses, and in due time these
will pass away, side by side.
In Judge Kendon's establishment
House had a very decided asceudancy
over Cornice for there was an abun
dance Of room and light and warmth
and pure air, aud very little ornament
His Office was attached to bis dwelling
for he had been Of that class Of lawyer
who do not require good "busines
stand" in order to get business. HI
had no occasion to hang out his shingl
in public thoroughfare to catch custo
mers. Clients went in search of him
and he had greatly curtai!ed his incom,
by accepting place on the Bench
His Office roous were still occupied b,
his late partner, Mr.. Winston, ant
from there door led into his privat
library.
One forenoon in mid-wiutcr, ke wa
summoned to this library, and found
lady in quaker costume standing befor
his favorite picture. She turned as b
entered, and her face was so full of in
telligent appreciation that after tn
brief compliments Of meeting, lie joine'
her in looking at it.
It was that scene in tho Fairie Queer
where the lion breaks open the door Q
the hut, into which the old hag and he
grand daughter had refused Una ad
mission. As they stood, Margaret, 70
it vas she, remarked:
II have never before seen that ide
illustrated, except in a small and poo
engraving. and it is so expressive
"Yes," he replied; ''it tells the Who'll
story. Young Ignorance, and oil
Superstition always have resisted, ant
always will resist the progress Of Youth
They never have aud I think never vii
admit her into their domicil, until Pow
er breaks down the barriers they hsv
raised. Pardon me-" he continued
"but in this I think your people max
their mistake; that is, ia repudiatin
that great civilizer, the sword, which
but Power, or the Lion, 10 its mos
efficient form"
">1y people " she replied, hesitatine
"Oh! you mistake me for quakeres!
On the contrary, l nm Scotch Cove
nanter, and feel tho value of might i
sustaining the right"