New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-31


open them with fear and gripings Of soult
Within Is wine that has been drunk, flowers
that are wlthered, clothes long ago gone 10
the rag-man. The murdered dead that roso
before Richard in his uncomfortable nap were
much more agreeable visitors, for he at least
had had good deal of satisfaction out of his
murders; if he had punched Henry's body
full of deadly holes, he Lad enjoyed his
throne; and if he had smothered Anne, bis
wife, he had the comfort of knowing that she
richly deserved it. But nine-tenths OF these
our departed joys turned out mseries at the
very beginning Hepe is the exquisite little
supper at DelmOnicO's which we gave to the
English novelist, who put it and us in broad
caricature in his book; here are the bouquets
and baskets we sent to Adele (now Mis-.
Potts., only to see Potts wear the choicest
bud in his buttonhOe that Dight-Dead Sea
fruits that were ashes even to the rindi
The worst Of it is that these old follics Of
ours rise to wrench and torture US just as 40
are in our most virtuous mood Christmas
generally warns us all up to unknown heats
Of charity and humanity. We arc apt to plan
ont all kinds Of good works and ways with
which to set out next year to benefit our
fellow men. There are poor Dicks orphans
who had such jolly time in their shabby
clothes at our boys Christmas party. Wc
fully intend to do something for them next
year; send Jenny to school-a new suit OF
clothes for Joe, Spring and Fall, ETC., etc.
And there is the cObbler's family round tho
cOrner-whO would have believed roast of
beef would make human beings so happyf
We mean to look into this matter of bcneyO-
lence more closely; there Is little surplus III
bank which we have no need for; we will
give it to our needy brcthren-eStablish
divine knship with tho poorest Of Gods
creatures.
Just then Fate, with malign grin, opens
the door. and drives in this swarm of dead
sins on us, each in his saffron winding sheet.
The feeble fire of charity within us is
smOthcred-des for sheer want of breath.
The "litle surplus" disappears. wdcns into
gaping void, with not the chance Of green
back to fill it. Dicks orphans must wear thor
shabby clothes, the cObbler and bis brood 60
beefcss, and tho rest of our needy brethren
stand on the outside Of the gate for US. As
the yellow shower increases to food we be-
gin to doubt as to our OWA supply of beef
and trousers for 70; with vehemence va
urge "rctrenchmentn at breakfast every
morning; cannot imagine what a family like
ours can do with such an absurd quantity OF
milk; wonder if copper shoes would stand
Toms wear; so down street haunted by a
nameiess horror that things may reach such
crisis that our usual brand Of cigars
will not he possible to U.s. There is, too, tho
certainty that each Of these ghosts might never
have had being, or might have been laid as
birth if we had 80 chosen. We could have
stayed away from q dozen balls and parties.
and suffered no damage in brain or body;
life would have been possible without that
last proof before letter or bit of cracked
cloisonne enamel. IF there be any comfort
in fellowship, we may take it in knowing that
from Maine to California these yellow, lean
spirits arc flying about with a purpose almost
as virulent as the horrid winged things that pre-
sage pestIlence. In inland towns and country
villages, people who care nothing for
ball or opera, to whom rare prints and
cracked pottery are no temptation, arc
wretched to-day over tho little extrav lgancs
of last July, tho buggy hired for hair-day's
holiday, when they might have dug turnips.
or the lawn dress when calico would have
served. How many girl, dependent on
father and brother, is shedding hot salt tears
just now over these yearly bills, that each
seems a savage taunt of fate at her own ina
bility! How she racks her stupid little brain
to find some way in which she may earn ono
or two hundred year! How many scrawDy,
hard-handed hou5ekeeper is porting over the
green-grocer's LITTLE greasy book, staring at
the awful total, and wondering where the po-
tatoes could have been pared closer or tho
children have been stintcd in their sorghum
sirups! Your great debts and large expcndi-
lures are enemies to be met gallantly; but it
is when incomes are counted by the hundreds.
when debts are counted by the penny and the
dollar, that the juices and strength are worn
out of life. Money has its daily sting, end
seems then to bite like an adder and carry
death in its handling.
AS for the yellow ghosts, how arc wo to
make Roadway against thcmf How can VIC
lay them by December, '75i Everybody
lie Grand Johns who owes his hundred
thousands, and little Jones who is in debt to
his grocer an unbelievable ten dOllarS-knows
the key to the riddle 1t is hard, rough, and
disagrccable The way to suspend debtS-is
to suspend. The way not to owe for
wines is not to drink them. The way not to
owe for a coat is not to wear it, If we cam
not pay for meat, let us live on bread. If we.
have not cash for butter. let us eat our bread
dry. Let us all sign round-robin to face
the inevitable boldly in every day of rs from
January to Christmas. Then shall we in this
last week of the year arise like the lucky
harvester with rejoicing, bringing our fuu
"sheaves with us"