Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-12-02
SELECTED STORY
THE BEAM AND THE MOAT.
A REFORMATORY SKETCH.
nv ayLyANUs COBB. JR,

A REFORMATORY SKETCH.
By sYLvANUs COBB, JR.
"Gooi gracious Only think Of it! It,
too bad-too bad What is the world COM
ing to" And Mr. Jefferson Sharpleigh
rested his newspaper upon his knee, and
smote bis fist upon tina table by his sids-
sTake care husband, you came very
near upsetting the lamp"
1.-THE lamp! Mrs. sharpleigh, don, talk
to me Of lamps! It's enough to drive sen
sible man into fits y
"But what is i; Jefferson! What has
happened?"
''Listen." said Mr. Jefferson Sharpleigh,
hurting his hslf-smoked cigar into the CRATE
as though it had been an offending reptile.
"Will you give your ear to this: The
crown prin cess of Austria has made her APP
peara1ce at Baden Baden. During ths first
week of her stop she appeared in no less than
one hundred and seventy-twe different
dresses. all Of them Of extra quality and Of
the highest cost. "In heavens name, wife,
l ask you to think Of it! Mercy what a
wicked waste Of money "
..But," suggested Mrs. Shsrpleigh, in a
very quiet way, I suppose the crown prin-
cess Of Austria is wealthy enough to afford
such uxuries
wealthy enough !-Luxuries Afford
them p Mr. Sharpleigh gasped these words
forth as though his wite's excessive simpli-
CITY had astonished him. "Have you no
understanding. Anna? Do you imagine that
the possession Of wealth can give honorable
excuse for such extravaganza 7"
II suppose" replied the wife. meekly,
'sthat people have right to live according
to their means
"Live according to their means iterat-
ed Mr.. Sharpleigh, with increased indigna-
ton. "My dear Mrs. s., I should like to
know what you mean by that?"
II mean, said the lady, who had strength
even in her weakness, and who could be
firm when she believed she was right, "that
people have right to spend money that be-
longs to them and [ certainly think it is a
great deal better that they should spend it,
and thus circulate it among the producing
classes, 'thaA that they should turn missrs
and hoard it away.
Producing classes!" laughed Jefferson,
contemptuously. "And | suppose you call
the getters-up and manufacturers of these
eternal foods Of gcvgaws, and jim cracks,
and fumradddles that the women pile onto
their bodies producing class r
lssWhat do you call them, husband z" A
close observer could have detected slight
culver in Mira Sharpleigh's neither lip.
II call them set Of zeeches-of sponges y
answered Mr.. S., with another thump that
came near upseting the lamp second time.
II call them a set Of imposters! See how
they are fooling and bewitehing our wives
and daughters!'
"Well, WE'LL" Mrs. Sharpleigh allowed
herself further to say II don't suppos' that
all the articles worn by the female portion
of community are really necessary; but it
you are going to cry down all luxuriss, l.
think the masculine portion will find them
selves called upsn to make some curtall~
ments"
Mr.. Jefferson Sh.rplsigb heard little
foot pat very distinctly upon the carpet, and
he noticed that little rosy lip was becom-
ing rather tightly compressed; and he wisely
concluded not to push the argument any
further towards personalities. But Mr.. Shar-
pleigh was tremendous Reformer, and he
could not give up the main point. He con-
sidered himself shining light; and he be
lievcd that the only thing necessary to lead
society upon higher plane of true eiviliza-
ton was to follow him. He belonged to
three Moral and Social Reform Societies,
and would have belonged to more had they
existed anywhere near him. But, like ten
thousand other professed Reformers Of the
day, he went in fer an extensive system OF
tearing down and demohshing time worn in
stitutions of habit; but Of building up and
establishing new and better institutions he
had no idea.
my dear wife," said Mr.. s., after q
short pause, eff you have thus betrayed your
lack Of interest in the great reformatory
movements of the day, it would be useles.
for me to hold argument with you. But
( must call your attention to another little item
which find mentioned in my paper. Queen
Victoria has had another daughter married
This one has becn married to Prince Losi'
CT Hesse and the same wicked extravaganza
characterized the occasion Of the marriage
with the eldest daughter to the Grown
Prince Of Prussia. There was money
enough wasted upon the one article of lac'
to build half the houses of village like tn
one in which We live"
Whose money was it?'' asked Mrs
Sharpleigh. =,
"Whose was it ?" repeated Mr.. S., will
elevated eyebrows. at belonged to the pse
pie of England IT belonged to the People I
"And to whom did the Queens officer
pay it," pursued tn. wife. -
ITO whom did they pay it" sxclsime
Jefferson, preparatory to q kr.nd flourish
Eyes, slipped il Mrs. Jefferson, hsfor
her lord and master could proceed, sWsr
not the vast Gums Of msney sxpende4 on th
occasion of the marriage OF the Princes
Alice oil paid cut to the laboring aad pre-
ducing classes Of Englsnd?"