Smyrna times., 1874-04-22
MiSce eIIUW e OMS.
Spring Always Lags.

1t Is as true now as when Bryant wrote 1t
that the country ever has tagging Spring.
ders flushed with sudden bloom The April
violets and helotropes that perfume the street
corners are not more Spring-like now than they
were last January, when, between infrequent
storms, women tempted fate in diaphanous
gowns, and the sealskin coat became burden.
Easter Sunday saw much Spring gear; and,
though not few people denied themselves
the public consultations of religion because
milliners do sometimes disappolnt, hlacs, roses
and crisp nameless nothings were out in the
air. Even the average man, dining at his
club on pale lamb and ghastly peas, urged the |
season with lighthued cravat and creamy |
gloves. But all this was vanity. BY sunset
the north wind blew chilly, and the bleak sky |
closed over us as it was wont.
While the vernal feast remains in allegiance,
the clothes question is unsettled. The fair
creatures who somewhat remind Us OF the an
cent Athenians, in that they spend their time
in buying or wearing some new thing, are at
their wits end. The multitarlous millinery
which is ready is also premature. The other
mutifarious trappins which are not even Sc
lected must remain unhought. This is that
iov deferred which makes the heart sick The
fair wparpr of good clothes is in a state OF dis
| tracted incomnletencss for. though the Win
| ter is over and gone. the lark declines to war.
he sweet on the spray, and she has an injured
sense of having nothing to wear. The male
creature. too, is conscious that his Winter
coat Is tinged with a suspicion of unftness; ;
underneath is hidden a suggestion of shabbi
ness that shrinks from exposure to the tardy
Spring. He daliieS over the delicate cassi
meres that would he burdensome in August
but simply rheumatic now. He clings affec
ti0natev tn his ovPrcoat as to an old friend :;
hut it irks him little that he cannot honor
ably shed it. And in these cold, damp days
when bellies and beaux agree that the weather
is perfectly horrid" hundreds Of our broth
ers and sisters lament that the threadbare
> garments which scarcely cover them through
the mild Winter are insufficient for the chilly
Spring. These, LONG buovpd up bv the hone
Il of warmer DAYS coming. look dOefullv at the
prospect through their looped and windowed
\ raggedness.
! The vernal banquet is promised rather than
n frution it is suggestion rather than rea ity
- although the careful hnuSekeeper scanninl
: present prices, NAV think it very real. Ye
:: green peas, economically considered, are th
immature seedlings Of next year, the promise
s Of another Peneration-so to speak. AnC
er what is lamb but playful forerunnrr Of tn
- autumna mutton and the succulent saddl
( which shall cndlv furnish forth December lun
n, cheon tables? This aroma of promise is a
- there is of the Spring of which lamb and pea
:. are the ushers. Ever since the world began
ct it has been the fashion Of the poets to sing tn
- nraises Of Spring-wth a cold in the heaC
). Bat the history Of the human race has bee
&c one long protest against the gentle frauC
''' Even Colerdge. in Christabel, complains tn;
- - "Spring comes late up this way ;" and, thrp
al =, centuries ago, ROnsard PRAYED, God shie
) thee, Easter daisies" It is an cd stor
g Spring is lato this year. 1t is late every yea
- As regularly az the seasons revolve, it is a ma
,ut ter Of remark in the verna equinox that IL:
n is an unusually backward season. In fact,
s as periodically unusual as the willing he
Of Summer or the severe cold of Winter, bo
IF which are annual topics of wonder To Il
use lss Oldest Inhabtant. Nevertheless, with
a. their drawbacks and irritations, the Spril
months never pretended to have ANYTHING
recommend them but their notice of the cor
.rt ing of warmer davs and kinder skies. v
should rob life Of half its enjoyment if we
. sisted on seizing the core of things as we
along. The robin. for example. is only
fancy, an anticipation Of something else
IN IN come Personally, he is a nuisance; CAST
IN; inc nOmically, he is verv indifferent bird nevt
theless, rOrts have glori6ed him always, a
his associations are chiefly aesthetic and sen
mental. For this he is tolerated-even W
>, coined. So practical people who have to
n leli with bonds, stocks. and daily newspapers m
eo- look nm to the gray sky, where the clangor
the wild geese proclaims the heart of Win
broken and feel that the promise of pleasan
10 DAYS is honestly made March, April, a
uih. May like lamb and peas. are only suggestiO
'se os II is foolish to crush the evanescPnt charm
the time by trying to grasp it. It is unjust
blame these months for their unexpec
rigor; it should not be unexpected. BY
one nc by, when the fierce heats Of the dog DAYS
% upon us, we shall be sorry for the hard thi
. we have said Of this season. Let us he pate
April was never June; it never will be-
-. Y. Tribune.
with