The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-13
Thoughts Upon Winter, the Holidays
and Local Society Topics, as They
Suggest Themselves TO
Lady Contributor.
MABEL LAWRENCt'S LETTER.
She Passes One More Milestone In Lies
Journey, and Pauses to Make
Few Reflections.

Rude winter = fairly upon rs, With all his
frosts and storms. rude and chilling blasts
4 complete change has come over earth and
sky, and almost a great as one has come over
our feelings, The earth las changed her
drapery of green for one OF russell brown and
snowy whteness The sky has lost Its bright.
golden hue, and even when the sun tries to
shine it has such a feeble. sickly smile for
Us that not a single ray of light reaches the
windows of our heart. Our pen spells once
more the name that viii soon consign the
year 1876 10 darkness and the grave, for De
cenber. the death month, has come, and in
few more days the grand old centen-
NAL year will 20 out through the gates
of time, to return no more. How sad it i,
that in all the stateliness Of her old age, she
should he compelled TO witness such scenes
as are at present involved in the great ma
tional contest and instead Of the calm and
peace that should surround her dying hour.
she fingers but 10 see the contest deepen,
and TO be OF such nature as 70 fill the
minds OF all law abiding people with the
graVest apprehension. Is il any wonder,
then that We behold the pallid face OF this
December with mournful eyes that we bow
our head in awe as We see her shriveled and
empty hands hanging by her side? Or that
we have listened breathieSsly for her last
words, trusting they might bring rs some
message Of hope which would enable rs to
Drawer hearts? Blu; she tells Us dat each
year is to US Just what We may make OF IL,
and We suppose We do owe this
lettering old year some homage and some
reverence, even though her hands have not
been so full Of bounty aS they might have
been. The gorgeous colors Of this our CEN
tennial autumn lasted us but a day, and now
the winter winds whistle a sad requiem
through the withered branches OF the trees,
nd fka
south only intensifes the sadness of the
strain. Let those corrupt leaders OF the re-
publican party who have sought 10 enslave
the southern people by compelling them 10
submit 10 and become the ministers of their
will bear in mind that this seasons work Is
no days sensation 70 De forgotten on the
morrow. No, the theme is really a vital one.
and we hope may prove one OF potency and
power, and may every true, loyal democrat
ask himself the question, What is involved
in the present national cOnvul-
sion% and force himself 70 look
the answer squarely in the face. We would
have all true men grid up their loins and
prepare for the contest in earnest, and not
sit idly down and passively submit 10 such
foul wrongs, the base thought of which fills
ones heart with fiery indignation.
We are highly pleased to note that the
manly Out-spOken words OF our editor are
meeting with the warmest appreciation all
over the state We admire him too because
he Is so brave and fearless, and does not
Tince matters in giving utterances 20 the
purpose for which he speaks, bat We are
only one OF the many who know him To be
man of sterling honesty, and eminently well
qualified TO fill the place he occupies with
credit to himself and with satisfaction TO
the people.
If we don't mind we will lose our reputa-
ton for punctuality in letter writing, for it
is now more than two weeks since we have
written a line for the Sentinel, but as we are
in the proper mood to-day will report our
SELF after asking pardon for keeping you
visiting 50 long. The fact Of it Is We are
wee bit lazy about some such little duties,
and just now we divide time between kitchen
and parior, and are not so much a lady OF
leisure as we once were; then II requires so
little exertion on our part to fall into low
rocking chair by the window, pick up our
crochet or other fancy work. and dream the
afternoon away. These are busy tunes Tor
the fingers just now, for each member of
the family must have little present, and a
hundred and one things are to be done
before the great anniversary shall arrive.
Yes. the holidays are fast approaching, but
do not give promise of much gayety, for the
excitement of the times has for the present
put an end to both pleasure and business
pursuits. This is season that has its attrac-
tons as well as all OTHERS but as yet our
city has brought no new scenes or new en-
joyments. Everything still moves on in the
same dull routine, the majority OF its people
struggling for an existence. Business men
entertaining no very bright prospects for the
future thread our streets with pale, anx-
ious faces, while our gallant young beaux
ride in the same horse car every day, or
travel over the same beaten track in going
to the store or mount the same Office chair,
and indulge in few of the good times Indian
apOlis society once offered. We girls are, many
OF us, at home helping mother with the
household duties. and If we entertain our
friends at all, it is done in a quiet, unosten-
tatious manner. And really ii seems as II
fell blow were being aimed at our social
structure, for we have lost those heart
smashing dress-parade entertainments, and
now that we are too poor to keep them up
and they are wiped out of existence. what