Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-02-08
MEMPHIS, TENN: THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY s. 1872

all about bis dwelling was hushed But
by the wondering neighbors 10 at mid
night was seen in his yard, standing be-
fore q structure fashioned like a music
desk, by him lantern, before him
charts, rules and compasses, and 10
glancing with the specialized eyes alter
nately up 10 the stars or down toward
the map. 10 had "been seized with a
sudden passion for astronomy and was
tracing out the consultations Some Of
the boys stole one day into j 10 apartment
and, with pen and ink, on, his celestial
charts, costructed some new stars of
the first magnitude He soon accused
modern astronomy of not keeping a
strict watch on newly come worlds.
This grand and stately mistress Joe de-
serted for Terpsichore. The dancing
master organized his winter campaign
in camp. 10 joined the class, and
plunged into the use, philosophy and
profit of dancing. mot only, said he,
is it a necessary accomplishment for
gentlemen, but il is an agreeable method
Of cultivating order, exactness and pre-
cision. Order was heavens first law.
Hence to attain that contented condi-
ton of mind, the only true heaven, all
should learn to dance.
The ladies said he was most trying
partner, from mis- propensity during the
quadrille to waltz Off into other sets.
JOS era Of universal requirements ceas-
ed altogether A political campaign
drew near. Jobecame an ardent parti-
san, and announced himself as candi-
/ Ia =. al .,ku 30 NtA-
II feel,' said he, as altogether, one
night we strolled on the outskirts of the
camp, that am designated by nature
for a public prosecutor; for | am able,
in any case, condition or circumstance,
to divest myself of all sympathy or bias,
and just sock it alike to friends or en-
emies.
His was the most unblushing audacity.
1t scared into the sublime. Dnring the
singing Of our choir 10 always turned
squarely around adjusted his eye
glasses, folded his arms, and "faced
the music" the remainder of the con-
gregatien, their faces turned modestly
toward the pulpit, served for him as
sort of bas-relief. ." want to see the
source of the melody" said he in exten-
uation. usCustom says face the minister
and let the girls sing away at our back.
Why face the minister? He's doing
nothing. It's the choir who have the
floor. CUSTOM hang customl I'm
tree man. I'll make my own customs"
Then he made audible comments on
the sermon, to be heard for several pews
around. His premises are false his
conclusions are not valid, he would
remark to me, alluding to the minister
/ vibrated to the other pernicious ex-
treme of diffidence, and these critical
explosions of JOS in church drove me
into perspiratory conditions hot and
cold. sai sra a5,3sif
Heaven was once the theme. 10 heard
attentively, and after service was unu-
sually silent Monday morning, still in
his distracted mood, head bowed down,
hat jammed over his forehead he
met on the street the pastor. Mr..
-" said he, listened yesterday
with interest to your discourse, You
gave, however, to heaven no precise lo-
cality. Now, | think I've worked that
out. | place it at from thirty-three to
forty-fve miles from the earth, and
reason it out thus: Angels are always
pictured with wings. Wings are useless
save in an atmosphere like that enyelop-
ing the earth. So, from these data, |
conclude that heaven must be, say,
about thirty-three miles above us. The
minister bowed, smiled and passed on.
10 is long since dead. That restless,
active, inquiring, yet impatient mind,
fretted itself out Of the body, perhaps for
the lack of knowledge in the training Of
its power, But many year after JOS
death, the boys" while talking him
over would allow that he was indeed
loss never to be replaced 8tt.