The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-15
"REMINISCENCES OF A RIDE.

Neither did the old man, in the Arabian
Nights Entertainment, believe but that dirt
and clay composed the earth, until his eyes
had been rubbed with magical ointment,
and 10 ! deep in the earth was a realm OF bril-
liant gems and treasures. If you are afflicted
with ennui take some of the salve called OBJ
servation, annoint your eyes well, then take
ride in the car, and you will be we'll re-
warded. Comedy and tragedy are often there.
humorous attributes of human nature. I
dined out one day last week; we had a
splendid dinner, and were jolly party.
In the crimson claret we found common
sense, in the merry depths of champagne We
found song and story, and in the amber sherry
we found wit; little doubtful perhaps, but
not a whit the less charming to US. Strange
to say, after dinner, 1 found myself growing
pensive; felt disposition to moralize.
thought of life, and thought "there's nothing
in it." I began to think the "oystsrs" did
not agree with me. In moment of happy
inspiration, I thought, 81 will ride to Car
rollton." 1. was almost the hour when SUM-
shine and shadows meet. The sun, "pure
of the pomp of clouds" gave the shades
breathless kiss as I took the cars.
am free to confess my recollection of how
got to Carrollton is little misty but get
there did, and met the jolly host of pisca-
tory "Reminiscences, exchanged a friendly
greeting, and at his suggestion partook OF
what Dick Swiveller called GA modest
quencher." / felt revived. And now the
moon, who, like high priestess, hears the
confessions and sees the sins and follies of
earth, was slowly rising. The great oak trees
reached out their brawny arms to clasp her in
her loneliness. and shook their gray boards
sadly at their hopeless love. took the car
to return to the city in state of lazy, COM
Portable watchfulness.
1 like to see the people as they rids-Gke
Atlas in the fable of old-each carrying a
world of his own, and confidently believing
his World is the world, and all revolving on
the axis of selfshness. First there got into the
car chubby, jolly little woman without any
front teeth, but none the less smiling,) with
three chubby little children in three different
phases of the whooping-cough three of
them made it lively. Next came a fine
looking gentleman, at whose entrance the
chubby little woman literally beamed with
delight. 1t was (unlucky many her pastor.
The whooping- cough, in the shape of Bobbie
and Tommie, was hustled into the corner and
room made for him beside her.
knew the gentleman well; he cast an ap-
pealipg look at me, and with truly Christian
expression of countenance took the seat She
Immediately commenced a rambling talk,
everything inclusive, and I left him to his
fate. Then there was couple in the imbe-
Gle stages of courtship. He had the usual
number of eyes-very round, and 1 can truth
fully say without ray of mind or soul. Oh
if the beautiful doctrine of the Swedenborgian
be true, what vast fields of labor lie before
that young maa beyond the stars. The lady
was saying, with insipid affectation, 'It is best
not to marry at ALL" and he was looking at
her mourntully and industriously sucking the
round knob on the top OF his cane, until l
could not tell whether he had three eyes or
three knobs to his cane, they looked so much
alike
/ thought them we'll matched. and passed
Onto newly enfranchised citizen, who sat
next to them. He was of the genuine African |
type, and was in state of aggravated infa- |
ton. He had just been relieved from the |
duty of juror. Yes from the abyss OF utter |
ignorance, without grade to intervene, this |
man, paradoxcal as it sounds, mad been pre-
cipitated to the heights of juror; before |
this man the profound wisdom and research Of
the law was 'unfolded by gentlemen of cultiva-
ton and distinction, by gentlemen with an
educated ancestry even beyond our coming
Centennial A law which, if the Scripture be
true, was founded on code still alight with
heavens glory, law built up and practised
by the talent and genius of the earth.
Well for Justice that she is blind, that she
may not see the degradation of her grand and
god-like system. As the car stopped, I turned
sadly away, with Madame Rolands famous
in my thoughts, On, liberty how
many crimes are committed in thy name"
The car stopped. My attention was rivettsd
A young couple got in-''both were young"
and one was quite pretty. Instinctively |
felt a newly married couple. She carried
three large bouquets, not trim, tied-up bou-
quets, but flowers rife in their golden beauty;
so fresh they had not yet forgotten freedom.
He carried three large brown paper bags.
They seated themselves, and he tnoughttuliy
opened the largest bag, and commenced to
eat bananas
He reminded me of a bee who had gathered
more honey than he knew what to do with.
Eight bananas did that reckless young man
Eat; eight banana paelings he threw directly
across bis young Wits face out of the win
dow. 1 thought to myself the dedication to
the story is over this young man has actually
plunged into matrimony. The ex-bride, just
endowed with the rich charm of wife-dearer,
.ccordiDg to mans theory, than bride-bent
over her roses and whispered something If
could have heard, l would not; he tried to
ook sentimental as he opened another of the
Drown bags. I began to feel intensely inter
ssted. Apples this time; six apples went
90 where the good apples co. and now the
apple cores were thrown across the face of his
wife.
trembled sfor her delicate and expressive
hose. they passed SO close And now began
% be afraid that should never know what the
bird bag contained, for he hesitated-nature
eemed to enter protest happily for my
curiosity, he turned deaf ear to her en-
reaties, and commenced to eat grapes. He 3,
nay have offered some, but never saw him
l. |