The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-09
The Grown and the Kiss.
AN .ALLEGORY,

DR.. Knabb's great old style country
mansion was crowded with happy peo-
pie, young and old. Huge glass be-
tasseled chandelierskflamed, and flash
ed, and sparkled. Every window was
thrown up, every door was open. Ev-
erybody smiled.
1t was starry summer night, lit
tie breezy, odorous of flowers and spicy
shrubs, and from no great distance
came the mellow blooming of the
ocean.
This was the eccentric DR.. Knabb's
musical festival. l had come all the
way from my new home in the Far
| West to attend it. The doctor and ]
had been classmates at Oxford. I ar
rived at nine o'clock on the very eve
| ming.
"Why, why, sure enough. Here you
are at last! Welcome, old friend, to
my home and my music feastw
/ was clasped in the doctors muscu-
lar arms, squeezed, shaken, and then
held at arms length, to be looked at as
something rare and fine.
Meantime the music clashed and
quavered. A multitude of voices in
my cars, a thousand lights assailing
my senses, and up in the top of the big
pine tree by the porch the moaning Of
the wind.
"Bless your soul, friend of my boy
hood, come right in, get rid of this
travelling garb and dust, and then
just listen; do you hear themg Rare
old time, by Jovew =
The doctor spoke thus as he hurried
me, by pushing vigorously at my back
along Il narrow side hall, and into 9
coom, whittier my baggage was soor
brought.
i While was dressing my old frient
walked back and forth in the room
t,lking in that gusty, spasmodic way
which tells of multitudinous pleasure.
! bl, emotions thrilling a finely strung
: nervous organization.
"Ah, my dear friend" said he, rub,
bins his hands together and smiling
: radhntly, 'Shurry up, you are losing
: the irst round. Listen that's Signol
B. singing the Marseillaise. What {
q splendid baritone !"
1t vas indeed rich voice, and un.
der tie control of a master. My toilet
was herriedly made, and then, leaning
: on the arm of the stalwart doctor,
was swung precipitately into themids
i of the tlrong of guests.
Splentid ladies bowed to me, gen
: tlemen Of the highest culture took mt
: by the hind.
Four great parlors had been, by
means of folding doors, thrown int
, one,i in the center of which, an raised
stage, stool splendid harp, two pi
, amos, and agreat organ.
The master of ceremonies was :
brown haired young man, who from ,
strip of paper read aloud the names o
the performer, each in it's order, ant
so the exercifes were kept up. Now
quartette, now duet, now a solo, will
J varying effect on the audience.
: thought it all very fine, though l hav'
D no musical education, and SO canno
; speak critically. Indeed l am sur
that was no place for a critic at all.
But rare music,l talent was there
!, however, men ard women of world
!. wide fame, somewhat unrestrained, n
G doubt, abandoned to the luxury Q
pouring out songs and symphonies
ii without regard to morning papers.
f I looked about m. with great inter
2 est, and feasted IN. eyes as well a
: ears. All about til. walls hung rar
! pictures, oddly, but neatly, framed
d scenes of the old aad new world
: scenes Of the golden age and scenes q
p the iron age-canyasyisions of thing
: past and things to, cone; but the fai
!faces Of living women, and the grace