Litchfield enquirer., 1874-07-30
From The Galaxy. SlcNOR SPIRIDgOM.

Continental Hotel, James," said Dr.
 Meade. as we walked Qp the street togeth- CT one October afternoon.
 l had made dozen intellectual attempts to find subscribers for my journal i'll an
 hour; even the tracts which l offered to give away were thrust aside with q smile
 by tine prettlly dressed women; and a scowl by many of the men. '"Take your books into the hotel, continued the doc
 tor. ''The devil goes raging up and down i'll there as we'll as outside; and here I really am afraid you are mistaken for peddler."
 What did that matter? l was willing, nay, anxious to become a martyr in some
 way or other. As for Satan, he did in- deed ragei l stood, vallse in hand, on the corner, looking at the streaming crowd; the men in fashionable attire, wearing rose even ill their business coats; the wo- men-ah, how could I have conceived, in our quiet village, of such rustlings of silk and flashing of jewelry; such ''nods, and becks and wreathed smiles" as old John Milton had it? At one side of me was man selling idle toys; at the other, great shop window full of particolored confec- tionerY. A band of street musicians dis coursed lively strains for the delectation of the worldly crowd, who threw them money as they passed.
 "Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair!' l sighed.
 ''This gay street, Brother Meade, appears to me but the broad way down which thousands hasten, but which, as we are warned, abuts into hell"
 He listened with an amused smile.
 ''Tut, tut, James! you arc dyspeptic. Go into the hotel and try your luck there. Ah!" lowering his voice as a handsome I 11.0ro mn fa kha n7 oko1, ing with interest the two men who alight- ed s'That is Spiridion, the Italian tenor, singing at the Academy now. You never heard him? Oh, of course not; nor ei- ther, I'm sorry to say. A voice wonder fully sympathetic, people tell me-"
 1 l remarked how terrible 1t was to see such gifts turned to the service of the Evil One; but Brother Meade had caught | sight of somebody on the side of the l street to whom he was holding, and only answered that Spir1dion was a generous fellow and gave like prince to charities; I and when I reminded him that such right eousness was but in value as filthy rags, replied absently, "Ah, to be sure," and | for mo to remember that I was to coma down that evening for tea, and so was off.
 My heart was exceedingly heavy as I turned into the wide hall of the hotel, the very floor of which was padded as if to soften all roughness out of life. Now. how could but remember that our fore fathers fled hither to the wilderness to es- cape just such luxury and the vice to which luxury gives birth.
 Our village and church had always been proud of Charles Meade, who had once been reckless, devil-may care young fell low, who was now one of the leading preachers in his sect. But I questioned whether the cOrrupting hand of the world had not been laid too effectively upon him. I surveyed my own clothes of brown shoddy, baggy at knees and elbows, con- trasting them with his coat and trousers of black, fitting like glove, and I felt it was too evident that he bore the, ear mark, the insignia of the master of pomps and vanities. I was inclined to crY Alas! my brotheri as he turned away.
 passed through the hall, into an up- per corridor. Costly carpets covered the floor; lace curtains waved at the windows on either hand. Stationed along the hall were stewards, or major-domos, who questioned me of my intentions, and some what rudely advised me to go to the office. Brother Wheatley, however, man of wealth ahd influence in the church, passing at the moment, bade them desist.
 Remain here; MT. Gay" he said, "for the rest of the week. At my expense, will have better opportunity of ap- I turned away, mention me as a 'scolpor- teur, and most estimable young man. Much in favor with the association"
 My success was varied for day or two. It was easy to distribute tracts, but there my missionarg work ceased. People looked at the little books politely, but when urged them to buy, or even offer ed them to them gratuitOusly as unrepen- tant sinners, they rebuffed me, though politely still.
 ''You must have other reasons, James," said young Dr. Meade to me one day, ''for chasing men arbitrarily as followers of Satan, than their possession of luxu- ries to which We in Rydevllle were unac- customed. The rich Roman centurian, as we'll as the poor Samaritan woman, were faithful, each in his appointed place."
 But, having my own opinion of Dr. Meades lax belief, l declined argument. had felt curious anxiety to come in closer contact with the Italian, Spiridlon, telling myself that a convert of this stamp would indeed be worthy of an effort; but my concience warns me now had no bet ter reason than sheer curiosity. I desir- ed even at this distance to gain glimpse of the theatre or opera; of that glittering world, with its unreal fatal shine and glamour.
 But it was not easy to see the renowned tenor! His meals were served in his apartment. He came in and went out by some private entrance to me unknown.
 ''The signOr, some of the clerks said, ''had mystery with him. There were several members of his suite-English tu- tor, servants, etc. But they all had se- cret to keep from the reporters; undoubt- edly there was a mystery" l, for my part was quite ready to believe the story and that the secret was of the most vi- cious description.
 One day, however, overheard whis- per among the servants that Spiridion was ill the public dining-room and discovered him at table not far from my own. It appeared to me that he must be 6 fair type of that brilliant and wicked life of which knew nothing. He had the Ital- ian features; there was always something suspicious and immoral to me in swarthy skins and beetling brows His eyes, black and sultry, moved languidly, as be, fitted an idler in this busy world. His dress was unlike that of the ordinary men about, but confess I was not enough skilled in the tailoring art to tell why; there was velvet instead of cloth, fine cambric in lieu of linen. glitter of pre- cious stones. faint delicious perfume as he moved It was Dives, wrapped in the purple, sheltered by soft colors and grace and even defence of perfumed air, from all knowledge of needy Lazarus.
 l could not help recalling my own home training and the habits of self-denial and humility to which I was then inured, thanking God silently that was not as this man. I had watch him for some time before he glanced toward me- When he did, saw curious expression rise into his face, and felt it reflected in my own; as though we had known each other in the past, or should be connected in the future. The feeling instantly checked as absurd and impractical. Afterwards I comprehended it; with it's influence still upon me. waited at the door until he passed out, and handed him a tract en- 1 titled ''Warning to an Offender" not wishing fo rOuSe his anoer hv a mora d;