Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-04-03
About Pockets.

Pockets are marked feature OF civilized
life. Their history is the history of all civ
ilized humanity, and catalogue Of their
successive contents would furnish con-
dcnscd biography. There were no pockets
in the fg-leaf aprons of Eden; our first pa
rents had no need to hoard Or appropriate,
for the trees and herbage of the garden Of
fered them freely all their simple wealth.
There were no pockets in Adams first blouse
of skins, for as yet he had no knife where
with to cut tobacco, and was innoccntly ig-
norant Of the potency Of the marvellous
weed.
But when life grew hard and human in
tcrcsts conflicting, then the pocket became
a developed institution, areceptacle for the
means of daily solace, amenity and conven-
icncc. 1t is social, not selfish institution.
1t contains supplies not boards. The
treasures of the miser are buried ina vault !;
while the subsidies of the pocket are ap-
propriately known as change. From its
warmcst corner comes the penny for the
strect-sweepcr, the toys for the pet of the
iresidc, and the weekly gratuity for char
tiles of every kindly name.
But the most characteristic deposits are
not in money. Children prefer the con-
crete to the abstract, the end to the means.
While the little man wears the dress of his
sister, his pockets, like hers, is filed with
cakes and candies But very soon he
seeks wider range of activities, and the
swcetmcats not yet ignored, dispute pos
session inch by inch with jcws-harps, fish
hooks, tops, kte-strings and knives. If he
is mechanical, the knife gains a campan-
ion in an ivory rule; if studious, in pencils
and paper. Then comes the bcligerent
period when the country boy makes invest
mcnts in powder and shot, aud the young
citizen is an amateur in pistols and rcrcus-
sion caps.
And rs war alternatcs with peace, the
tomahawk with the calumet. so about this
period, if at all. is developed preference
for cigars aud fnc-cut; but these are nox-
ious weeds that are liable to choke out all
hcalthful growth Just as rats leave
sinking ship, when these fragrant treasures
find their way to the pocket. indignant
moths leave the young mems wardrobe in
disgust. 1t will be well if the odor does
not serve to expcl more desirable visitants
than these. Then follows the youths Ia
test pocket companion. the watch, point
ing with its golden finger tho silent moral
of time.
For the girl, her carly sugar plums give
place to the cheap luxury of dolls. soon fol-
lowed by that familiar implement the thim-
ble Hard upon this comes the scribbling
stage, when the pocket finds room for pen
Gil and paper, for notes of many pages duly
crossed, and filled with fancics and follics,
the friendships and fashions Of sixteen. 1t
is but slight change from these romantic
missives to those Of warmer hue, the billet
dour of boyish admirers, to be followed we
trust by the firm lines that bear the frank
avowal of a manly love. Yet these last
will not long remain in his pocket; they
are too precious guest for such familiar
treatment, and shall retire to some inner
sanctuary. set apart for the holicSt of all.
With love comes sorrow religion so
when our crowned woman has hidden away
her hearts treasures, hallowcd by kisses if
not by tears, amid shower of fallen rose
leaves, perhaps prophetic Of their fate, she
receives new friend, pocket-lsible in
their place. Consecratcd to labor, love and
duty, tho pocket thus meets tho whole
round of human needs.