Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-16
ETesnerisrn and NIairimopy.
BY r. p. sHILLABER.

MarEin Speed was bachelor. He had
backed and filed, and heeitated snd
doubted about entering upOn the hiissfnl
estate of matrimony, until the fire ot
Youthful passion was all spent, and mat
rmony had become a problem to him AZ
dry and formal IS one in old Wel.h's ar
ithmetio to be ciphered out for Al an
swer, "a much as that proposition about
carrying the fox, goose. and bag of corn
across the creek, thst everybody problem
ly remembers. Being H phrenolog,-t, he
left the province of hearts altogether, end
went to examining heads, TO ascertain by
genealogical developments wrmens
fitness for the position of wifi to Martin
Speed, E-q IA letters came addressed 70
him at the Speedwell post flee. tn
town. of Speed well was named for an an
cestor,,of biz, and boosted of several thou
sands of inhsbjtants, and, as it was &C.
tory place, it had gaodly share of good
looking interchangeable girls.
Martin studied Coomte and Spurzheim
and Gall, and grew bitter 40 disappoias-
ment saw him enter his forty frat year q
bachelor. He looked back on the paat,
and saw the chances be had neglected,
and the happiness of those who had start
ed with him, and were now portlv people,
the heads and fronts of the families and
the delicate damsels he bad sighted, re.
spectacle mothers ia Israel, and exempl4-
ry and amiahIe wives. He aought every
opportunity for examining the heads Of
such as would submit themselves TO his
hand with hope of catching the b,chel
or for they knew his weakness. and he
was well-to-do and an eligible match
But in vain he looked for perfection. The
bumps would not be arranged as he wish
ed them. If he took liking to a pretty
face. phrenOlogy impertinently gave it
the lie straight, and he at one avoided it.
1t was at this iuucture that a biological
lecturer-a grave Professor II th3f s9}enoa
Game to STeetlwell and gave series Of
exhibitions. Those Martin attended, and
biology at once became an INTENSITY"
with him-a "new emotion" He attend
ed all the exhibitions; saw men persOnate
roosters aud crow; hens and scratch ;
ahiver with, cold OIL burn with heat, at the
will OF the operator; saw miser endeav-
or TO clutch an eagle held out to him
while under the Influence of the wonder
fol spell. and the tongue of a woman
stilled who for twenty years had been the
pest of Speedwell by her loqqaoity. ..-
This put the mind of Martin on a new
track. He sold his old phren0logioal
works, and devoret1 himself TO the stndv
of the wonderful science through which
such marvels were performed. The pre-
lessor was a fine teacher, and Martin
placed himself under his tuition. He snc
ceeded admirably. In short time he
surp 4ssed his instructor, and had more
than his powers in influencing the sus
oeptible among his weak brethren and
sisters.
He formed resolution to himself, that
through this means he would gain a wife
Gould he find one that this science could
coutrol-one that at glance be could
tr ansfix like the man who was stopped by
the mesmeriser half way down, as he wAs
falling from the roof of house-he wonld
marry her, for the reason, dear reader.
that Martin had not married, was that he
had heard of wives wearing the gu
thority over their lord, snd he was timid
man.
In this new science be saw security.
and sedulously sought for one of tha right
description. At every party where he
WAS invited. at every sewing circle, at ev-
cry knot of factory girls in which he
mingled in the summer evenings, he tried
the art, bnt without success. At last,
when on the point of despair, accident
gave what he had failed of obtaining by
seeking.
A widow-dapgerous to bachelor pace,
as edged tools are to the careless hands of
the nexperienced-came to the village on
4 visit. TIE weeds had not been removed
that marked her bereavement, and the
merest touch of melancholy rested on her
brow; but Der eye was laughing. and
sweet curl strayed away and lay like p
'hiseled eddy upon the marble of her
,heek. She had jewel on her hand, end
he black dress she wore was cut Judi
'iously-the dressmaker that cut it had
been widow herself, and knew how to
manage such misunderstanding beauti-
'ul white shoulder and a bust of rare
oveliness.
Martin met the widow at the residence
II friend, and liked her. He had never