New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-30

the same individuals, thus affording me o.
excellent opportunity of gaining prett
correct idea of their opinions and habits
Ere long my own troubles were forgotten
in the interest took in the affairs Of others
and camo to the conclusion that Q grea
deal of useful information and food for re
Election might be obtained by taking d
hours stroll through the streets of city
My sympathies had been enlisted in behsl
of some With whom l came in contact, -
| in imagination, visited their homes anC
witnessed tho trials of which they hsG
spoken. Then, again, my indignation had
been aroused as beheld acts of cruelty in
flicted upon dumb animals, or heard the IN
kind and angry retorts Of man to his fellow
man.
There Is NO telling where my thoughts
would have carried me, had not my atten
ton been attracted by the appearance Of
two ladies who suddenly turned corner
and came full upon me. As moth is daz
zled by the glare of candle. so was be-
wildered by the elegance of their wonder
fully land might add fearfully) fashioned
apparel. In fact, l was quite az much puz-
zled regarding the manner of their locomo-
ton - King George was about the structure
of tho apple dumping; for whenever they
approached crossing they hesitated, leok.
ing first one way, then another. At last,
with one "daring last look of despairing, =
they cleared the muddy impurity. The
mystery of their maneuvers was explained
when l noticed that their skirts were tied
back, almost down to their heele, giving
them the appearance of being hobbled.
As contemplated their situation, felt
rising of leach particular hair" for sup
pose . runaway horse should have come
along just then-how would they have es-
capped immediate destruction! Most surely
they could not have jumped the gutter, az
did. Poor, frail humanity! Ever ready to
sacrifice comfort, appearance. nay, even life
itself, for the sake of fashion. Those two
individuals interested me; my resolution
was formed. Said to myself, "Whither
thou goest, will Co." Butt alas! little did
dream that the old adsge. Listeners never
hear any good of themselves" was to be 90
soon verified BY their conversation. Who
could have believed it possible that the
subject of their discourse was "poor rsls-
tions!" And stranger still, they actually
possessed some of those intolerable nui-
sances.
The lady dressed in blue gros-grsin,
trimmed with guipure. had the previous
evening been terribly mortified by the ap-
pearance of the skeleton of their family,
who had ratified its bones, and whose va
cant stare had filed her with horror. 1t
appears she had invited q few select friends
to dine, in honor of distant elative. upon
whom she wished to make good impress
sion. All passed of nicely until coffee was
being served in the parlol; the gong sound
ed, and in answer to q lock from the house
boy she entered the hall, where she encoun
tered "Cousin Maria" What should she
do! For glance at the plain attire Of the
visitor proclaimed her poverty and lack of
style. Her arrival at that moment was
really calamity. An introduction to her
fashionable guests was simply impossible. Be-
fore she could devise means of escape from
her unpleasant predicament Maria advanced
toward the open door, and entering. paused,
as if expecting to be presented. The host
ess had not the courage to pronounce her
name, as it would disclose the near rela-
tionship she bore them. She endeavored
to engage her in conversation, hoping
thereby to attract her attention and
trusting to chance for future explanation.
After On awkward silence of several no
ments, which seemed to her an eternity,
she noticed flush overspread her cousins
face, and q certain expression about the
mouth told but too plainly that she felt the
slight. How, at that moment, she wished
she had acted differently! There was a
:'still small voice" whispering that she
lacked moral courage; but it was too
late, as Maria rose, and, bowling, said,
pardon my intrusion left the room.
Then she realized her own weakness, and
how diffioult it would be to offer and OK.
cuse, as her cousin had once been better
of, and had always treated their family
with hospitality. The affair had Disguised
her with kin Of every description. She
wished people could comprehend the NOR
LITIGATION to which they subjected others by
not accepting their condition in life; it
would be 80 much more pleasant for all
concerned, - there could never be any con.
geniality between the rich and poor. Now,
being naturally of an impulsive and sym
pathetic disposition, my heart was over
flowing with loving kindness for that sweet
creature, and longed to soothe her woe,
and to offer consolation by comparing her
case with that of the two Washington
ladies, whose distress is 90 touching
ly described by Mark Twain in the
"Gilded Age" The cause of their sor-
row vaa n darling noodle whose A.