Litchfield enquirer., 1873-12-25
From Godey's Lady's B. ok. THE CLOTHES WE WAER.
BY SAcCALACREuS.


 tor. Thus long they had rested nndei Supplies, the subjects of which were l summoned before them ostensibly ito fl the desk for few Sundays merely" bu' in reality to undergo q scrutiny and criti cism rarely equalled. As yet. however | no one had been found who exactly me their requirements. And now the congre gation eyinced unmistakable signs of wan ing interest in attendance at church ser | vice.
 Something must be done, said Isaac Bond, who was millionaire, pillar of the | church, and chairman of the managing | committee. ''Yes, something must he done, and when I say this, I mean some l thing definite and decisive" So 1t was finally arranged that their secretary should write to Doctors Duncan, Clark. Mont gomery, and other eminent divines, in- cluding President L--- of - Di- vinity School, making necessary inquiries relative to securing proper minister, worthy of filling the desk, and feeding the flock of Trinity. This done, it was de cided that the question of selection should be open for deliberation to the entire church membership. who were to meet in the capacious drawing-fooms Of Isaac Bond.
 A lively, chatty crowd of about seventy had assembled.
 "It is shame, remarked Mrs. Dayton, ''that our church is only 9 third repre- sented, and that, too, when question of so much moment is pending. I wonder why Judge Marks and his wife are not here"
 'I presume," said Miss Clemmens, that their absence Is in consequence of the fact that Mrs. Marks sister, the wid- ow Carlton, Las just arrived from Geor- gia; therefore they stay at home. Of course, attention to that frivolous widow is paramount to all church interests |" Miss Clemmens was a spinster, and be- sides her general information as to what was going on "at the neighbors'," she seemed always delighted at any opportu- nlty to impart any knowledge to those around her. She continued; "Sister Minerva saw tbem pass on their way from the depot; and she says that Mrs Carl ton was dressed in deep mourning for her husband, who has been dead the dear knows how long), and the express-wagon was heaped up with immense trunks-four of them P
 "You don't say p eiaculated Ned Lam phere, who "liked to see the fun go on" "What do you suppose she wears black so long for; don't you imagine she thinks 1t becoming ?"
 "Oh, it's all outside show, sister Miner va thinks; and 1t must be done for effect, for certainly no one presumes that she is mourning for her husband all these years"
 "Do you think, Miss Clemmens," said Laura Tracey, brown-eyed, fair-haired girl of twenty, ''that you are justified in thus summariIy passing judgment on oth- CT peoples motives 2
 ''Why," asked Mrs. Stevens. 'syou don t pretend to say that you really think that it is because of grief she still wears black, do you 9
 ''I fail to recognize any impropriety in the idea; more especially that her fife with her husband was all a welded life should be. When marriage results as it should-in strengthening the bonds of love, in pure and sacred mingling of heart with heart, harmonious blending of life with life, these relationships can hardly be forgotten in the brief space of four years.
 Lanra Tracey was beautiful, with the truthful earnestness gleaming in her eyes, and her womanly sense of justice aglOw upon her features, and in her manner. So thought Ned Lamphere, as he regarded ;her and, addressing her more with a wish to continue the conversation than because he had any especial object in putting the question, said:
 'I conclude, Miss Tracey, that you are not an advocate of second marriages ?"
 ''I confess to very little thought upon that subject, Mir. Lamphere; however, if I were to answer on the impulse of the moment, l shOuld say that every man or woman being fit candidate for marriage, has the power to judge, consequently the right to act in keeping with his own i'm pressions."
 May I ask, Miss Tracey, what are your ideas of the characteristics necessary to constitute one fit candidate for mar riage :? "
 ''I consider sentiment, and not charac- teristics, to be the foundation upon which to base the superstructure of Matrimony. And hold that sentiments incnlcated by education. are germs from which spring principles that guide us through life to good or evil; to uncongeniality, discon- tentment, and misery; or to the beauty of adaptability that pure, noble lives en- anate from. Characteristics are inherited, while sentiments are implanted Charac- teristics are inborn; sentiment acquired. Sentiments act as agents, either to sharp en and embitter characteristics of low order, or are elements which subdue these and elevate the nobier tendencies I think the cause of many of the unhappy mar riages may safely be attributed to the fact that many, entering into the matri- monial state, battle against influences op- posed to their characterics, and use them as weapons of defense, building up with them strong battlements, forming bar riers to the peace of domestic circles"
 "Conceding the truth of your assertion, how is the evil to be remedied ?"
 'tBy a correct education of sentiment; a higher moral standard of justice: and when people, by this education, shall have become less selfish, and are enabled to subdue pride of characteristics. I re- member hearing a man once say, My wife will find that her husband has a william indomitable will. It is characteristic of our family, and proverbial of us, that we are never known to: yield Evidently he was proud to make the declaration. But will venture to say, that unless he be- comes willing to sacrifice such pride, he will hardly come to know happiness in his home. It is pride which people so often mistake for grandeur, for strength of character, for courage. It manifests it. self in a thousand ways where 1t is mista- ken for nohler characteristic, and in the common acceptation of the term, includes but moiety of the ground that in reality it covers. '7'
 The conversation dropped here, as the meeting was called to order by the chair man of the committee; and after an ear nest prayer by MT. Tracey, the various letters were read and discussed. Mir. Jackson '.hoped they would be able to get Rev. James Blakesley, as Doc tor Clark wrote that he was peculiarly adapted for Trinity Church, being per fectly conversant with our doctrine; a splendid scholar and fine thinker; he is just the man.
 Mir. Stevens thought 'sthey would dc well to secure the Rev. Dewitt Marvin, as Doctor Duncan pronounced him real gentleman, and talented. too.'' =
 ''Fhe question is not whether our min. .,~lo 1s Al .