Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-09-09


ct is step SO short,)
Make earth to heaven.'
LIFE.
What is life? The answer to this uni
versal query would fill volumes. In each
reply there is view of the respondents
life. Let us glance at few of them
The first gentleman who undertakes to
define life for US is not of the most amiable
cast of mind decidedly not the gentleman
We should be inclined to make voyage
round the world with. He begs to inform
US that life is desolate journey, beset at
every step by bricrs. Not at all an en-
couraging prospect to young people, flush
ed with hope, who are starting on the voy-
age,-whc are just about to put their first
finger upon the treacherous thorns. This
gentleman we recognize as of that peculiar
class who put mourning upon brides,-re-
miuding them, just by way of damping
their present happiness s,-that the morrow
may find their lover in his grave Not
quite reasonable course this, in our opin-
BILE, and not few of US. let US hope, do
something as we proceed in life, to fortify
US for the approach of the enemy W. hen he
advances upon US. But why be shifting
continually at the door of the charnel-
house?
Another individual approaches with a
definition. He is solemn man, not to
be lightly approached by any one. He is
not to be trifed with on any OCCASION
We should say he did not smile on his
wedding-day. Life, be tells us, is but a
Journey to the grave; therefore, men are
to pucker their faces into the most serious
expression, and live near an, undertaken
This is most melancholy gentleman, who
wears his sadness as other men wear holi-
day looks, s,-who is, in fact, very proud Of
his solemn aspect. He shines at funerals;
aud perhaps the proudest moment Of his
life was when, as chief mouruer, he fol-
lowed his friend to the grave, between
rows of staring strangers.
And now comes jovial reckless fellow.
He is a little worn, we think. and the
brightness Of his eye suggests the use of
artificial stimulants. He is thoroughly
careless man. Careless of dress, careless
as husband, careless as father, particu-
larly careless in business, and careful
only to imbibe his proper, or rather i'm
proper, quantity of spirits before going to
bed. Yet he, with all his laissez tuire
logic, has his definition of life. He brings
it out patty enough, ask him when you
may,-to him life is a farce. He is, at
bottom. hapless individual, with very
little faith in the social virtues; inclined
to laugh at heroism and to pallia!e rufian-
ism; yet, himself, thoroughly good
hearted fellow.
A pretty girl now trips towards US with
her definition. She is of the sentimental
school; We see that at once. She has a
white rose in her hair her cheek is pale,
and she sighs frequently. Life" she
says, ''is flower. r.-to-day, bright and
beautiful, and Tomorrow nipt by the
FROST" We thought SO; exactly the de-
6nition we expected. She is young Ia
dy who possessing much natural sense,
and having one day opened an odd vol
ume of philosophy, conceives that she has
an insi ght not vouchsafed to common NOR
tails, that she is etherealized, and that
all her thoughts must be conveyed to the
outer world in metaphors She is pas
sionately fond Of flowers. adores the mega
therium, and has much to say (out Of an
elementary geological work. on the tertia-
ry formation. She informs her partner.
in the course of quadrille, that expert
ence teaches her she exists as tangible
reality, but philosophy tells her that she
only exists in her Imagination. Many
readers have met the young lady. The
last we heard of her was, that she had a.
dopted the Bloomer costume.
And now we are to observe very sal
low young gentleman, buried in the mus
lin and guaze of a dozen young ladies', who
are listening with open mouths. We re-
mark that the young gentlenan's hair is
worn extremely long. and parted down
the middle of bis head. The world is al
lowed to see much of this young gentle
mans neck, we also perceive. A glance
at his shir!-colar-completing the solemn
picture-we recognize the unacknowledg-
ed poet; the Injured individual who haunts
the cotsries of fashion to while away time,
till posterity pronounces final and trium-
phant verdict on his poems, entitled,
Sarah Jane, and other Verses" Here
he is, an infinitely condescending Apollo,
and the young ladies, not without trepid-
alton, hint that they have blank leaves in
their albums. TO one be gives an i'm
promptu written on the summit of Mount
Washington; to another favored lady he
presents his lines on the decease of faith
full spaniel; and, to a third, be offers an
answer to the great question. Here it is:
"Life is rapid river. flowing into a mys-
terious sea-" This definition, according
to the poets confidential friend, is true
poetry. for, lit leaves plenty to the i,nag-
ination." Our poet deals in the vague
and mysterious exclusively; and dandles
Death through his verses with that sport
i've activity which, according, to himself,