American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-01-30
form an opinion at first sight. People

who are of any account do not usually
show OFF well. One cannot expect to he
dazzled by II creature of such sterling
worth. But you think pleasant things of
INTO the inner sanctuary of her friend
ship and be strengthened and sweet
ened by association with such strong,
pure nature.
She redeems her promise to call on
you, and you admit her into your parlor.
The carpet and wallpaper have IA de-
cided antipathy toward each other. You
knew it long ago, but did not think you
could afford either to tear down the one
or throw away the other. 1t has been an
cyesore to you from the first; but you
tranquilize yourself by the sweet delu-
sion that no one else will notice it. When
the bell rings you pull the curtains down
in the daytime and turn the gas little
lower in the evening. Your neighbor
over the way called. She had the repu
tation of possessing exquisite taste and
unlimited means of gratifying it. You
felt little uneasy; but she was SO en-
tertaining that curtains and carpet were
both forgotten. Your neighbor on the
left called. You knew her pretty well by
reputation, and her reputation was that
of hypOcritc. You hadn't tine slightest
doubt but that she would tell the next
person she met that you had horrid taste;
and your rooms were gloomy as a
cavern; but she only spoke to you of the
pleasure she experienced from finding
your house cool and dark so restful to
the eyes and SO refreshing. So you read
lily yielded to the fiattery and rather en-
joyed the visit. When that truthful
woman came you knew that the tortures
Of the Inquisition would be pOwerless to
make her utter a word concerning you
that you would want to contradict; but
then she informs you that you have
made a bad selection of colors in the
room; that a carpet that cost half of
what that one did would be much more
suitable for your room, if the colOrs were
only in harmony with the walls and cur
tains; that the practice of sitting in
half-darkened room is very injurious to
the eyes. You knew all this before, but
it never annoyed you SO much as now,
and all your anticipated pleasure from
the visit Is gone.
You return the call. She tells you
that you laughed too loud; but, then,
you were having good time and forgot
all the defects in your toilet, and tells
you of each of them. You always knew
that true friend is one who tells you
your faults. 1t was your first copy, COM
menced with an enormous a, in your
first cOpy-boOk; it was the theme of
your last essay at school; it was the
cornerstone of all your Spanish castles
dedicated to friendship in after years;
but somehow you are not quite prepared
to enjoy the reality as you thought you
should, and you leave the house, leaving
all your mirth within; no danger of
laughing too loud now. The world has
suddenly grown very disagrecable and
gloomy, and you go home out of humor
with yourself and everybody else.
Go shopping with her, you don't like
the goods shown you, but make some
timid excuse for not purchasing. She
tells the salesman that his goods are en-
tirely too high; she could buy the same
article at One-thlrd the price over the
way; that he had better get in new
STOCK OF goods, Tor he had actually moth
ing worth carrying home. SO you meek
ly follow her from the store, feeling that
the salesman regares you as MS natural
enemy Tor causing INN TO receive unde-
served insult, and that she regards you
as an arch-nypocrite Ior not telilnS the
full truth ABOUT The matter In the nrst
place.
1nVite her 10 tea, she Will tell you that
tIere Is heavy streak IN your cake.
You wanted 1t extra nice, and put in too
much butter; out she sees only that
ncaVy s'reak, anu pays no attention 10
the othcr SIDE OF the question She asks
your friend II her cousin is keeping any
straighter now, and gives her views OF
such c0nouct as ne INDUCES IN lou
LOOK All sortS at 1er; she proceeds, noun
ing daunted You a:terward remon-
strate with her. In vain you tell her that
your other friend is not responsible for
the sins OF her family, even unto the
third and fourth generation; but she ut
terry brushes you by saying that she
speaks only the truth-no one should he
ashamed of that. You call on some one
to play. You probably knew that the
girl was not finished musician-more
than likely not hall finished one; but
she Is Kindly little body, who likes TO
play, and would ieel hurt If she were not
asked to do SO. After the usual prelini-
narles she consents, and naturally eX-
poets little praise. 1t would not require
much of an effort to thank her and praise
the piece little; but your truth telling
friend tells her that the music is alto
gether too difficult for her; that she is
sadly in need of practice; and whole
days pleasure is married for one who was
trying to please others. You wonder
how it happens that people who pride
think, never think anything pleasant. You
things are deceivers; but you rather like
them best, with all their faults. You