The Portland daily press., 1877-05-05
A Blue-GlaSs Story.
By MRS. ANNIE A..PRESTON.

II there is one thing that dislike above
another that affects my senses through the
agency of sight it is blue as a color-any-
where except in the sky and in the sea and
wherever nature herself has placed it. How
sparingy the color appears in flowers even,
and woman dressed in blue is only degree
less hideous than one dressed in green.
Don't the rudiments even of science teach
us that yellow, among all the seven prismatic
colors, possesses the greatest light, that the
greatest heat turks In the mperceptible rays
beyond the red; and that there is but little
heat on the violet and blue side of the solar
spectrum! empirically hold to this theory
my wife and General Pleasanton to the con-
trary.
But Sarah, my wife, is blonde, and she
will wear blue in spite of my well-known and
oft expressed antipathy to the color. My
family are all dark complexioned-in
Sarah, when she gets out OF sorts las even
the best of women will at times), declares We
are black as aces of spades. A woman who
had any regard whatever for her husbands
appearance wouldn't think of being seen in
company by his side in dress, the proximity
to which made him look like dyspeptic
Guinea negro, and so tell her on occasions.
But / forbear, OF try to, for Sarah is good
woman and tries to please me, although she
would be married in blue silk in spite Of all
my objections, and just now she is in a state
of mind over General Pleasanton's blue
glass theory.
First she wanted to try the effect OF blue
light on the fowls; then she was dying to ex-
pertinent upon the plants, and soon she came
to the conclusion that the baby and she her
self would be benefited by the lovely health
and baby were in general good health.
Whereupon she informed me, greatly to my
surprise, that they were both delicate, and
then she went on, again ehumerating for my
benefit the wonderful blue light cures-how,
after few days of the Pleasahton treatment,
the lame walked, hair grew on the heads of
the bald, and believe the blind were made
to see.
At all events, one evening last week was
informed by her that firm in Berkshire
county was manufacturing blue glass, aud
the next day was assured that really must
send for box of the panes and have them
put in the bay-window. The glass was said
to be expensive, to be sure, but what was ex-
pense to man in my prosperous circumstances
compared to the health of my wife and off.
spring?
stood it on this line for three days. Then
perhaps was rather peremptory, but was
tired of hearing "blue Light discussed, and I
told her SO. 1 told her, moreover, that I
shouldn't help enrich that Berkshire county
firm by ordering box or gross of this
newly colored commodity, and I ended up
with request that before returned home
at night she would get some other subject to
harp upon.
Sne simply gasped "harp'' in echo 10 my
closing words as hurriedly left the house,
gently slamming the door behind me. I don't
often slam the door, but was out OF patience
with Sarah. and was vexed at myself for be-
ing out of patience with her, for she is a good
woman, although, as I have limited, she is
rather peculiar.
1t was Saturday, and that is always my
busy day in my retail business, there are so
many country customers. taks my dinners
down town on that day, and Inever get
through with the books SO as to 90 home
until ten o'clock or after in the evening.
entered my house by the side door that night
and went at once to bed, and for the first
time in month went to sleep without hear
ing a lisp about blue glass or blue light.
Sunday morning, Sarah usually gets up
first and does not call me until breakfast is
ready. On the morning of which am writ.
ing. heard her stepping around between my
delicious little cat maps, and hoped, half
asleep as was, that we should get through
the day without anything blue nearer than
the blue ether putting in an appearance in
anyway.
When our house was built, the year we
were married, I had our sitting room made
with direct reference to catching all the sum
a wing south of the main building, and there
are east, south and west windows. The
shades are never closed the scarlet and white
ingram carpet is warranted not to fade, the
wall paper is on neutral tint, and the fur
niture is of bamboo Of the most unique pat
tern. 1t is perfect gem of room, although
TO be sure the dining room suffers a little in
consequence.
On pleasant Sunday mornings we always
have breakfast in the little sitting room,
where we can enjoy to the full that glorious
gift of God to his creatures-the radiant,
golden, health-giving, vapor-dispelling sum
light. l am not given to hobbies, but if
have one, it is this sunshiny home-nest of a
sitting room. My favorite pictures are on
the wall, there is small stand of plants in
the south window and two or three pet bits
OF statuary here and there on brackets. My
books are In niche on one side the chimney
and my writing desk in similar niche oppo-
site. Although the whole house is heated by
q furnace, In this room / have real old
fashioned fireplace with brass andirons and
avertable rollicking hickory wood fire, that
flashes and blazes up in scarlet flames
which run strong opposition to the rosy
sunlight that streams in at the broad win.
dows, and when the sun is obscured by
to the fire for sympathy, comfort and compa-
ny. I love this room. 1t is a CHEEKY, rest
full place, and if was going to have spat
with Sarah should 60 into the hall, dining
room or kitchen to have it, because I have
tried with my best endeavor to make the sit
ting room the very heart of our home.
Imagine then my dismay on entering my
little bit of paradise on this bright, warm,
sunshiny February morning, after I had taken
q han VII fho 1Op0
piazza, in my Japanese dressing gown, to
find myself metaphorically submerged in an
immense bluing bottle. thought had got
stroke of apoplexy, and put my hands up
to my head and rubbed my eyes. Then !
looked at Sarah, who was bending over blue
coffee urn that stood on a cozy round table
spread with blue cloth.
My wife in her tycoon rep looked like an
immense blue bell of Scotland (she is rather
dumpy); the baby, nesting among the pill
lows OF his basket-cradle, resembled huge
blue cabbage, the statuary had grown hypo-
chondriacal, the pictures were suffering from
an eclipse of the sun and seemed to be seen
through glass darkly. The lovely white
breakfast china was transformed into an I'm.
slightly array of fungi, and the sausages
seemed to be in some queer transition state.
away, and vanished up the chimney, dis
solving in blue smoke. crossed the room
and looked into the mirror. The reflection
that my eyes fell upon seemed ito be a cross
between bee larkspur and a peacock's tail.
sat down to the table and helped my wife
to some blue mashed potatoes and cerulean
egg. Then, spreading some blue butter upon
some blue bread I essayed 10 eat, but my
hands seemed to be undergoing modification.
l arose from the table, stood moment TAX
ing in the situation, then went into the bed
room to look at myself in the toilet glass.
Finding no immediate cause for personal APP
prehension, returned to the breakfast table,
poured indigo from the azure cream pitcher
into my ultramarine. blue coffee, added a
spoonful of of salts of vitriol from the flow
ing blue sugar-bowl.
Sarah looked at me curiously for awhile,
and then she said with loving information
in her voice:
"You are surprised at the effect, Charles.
1t is surprising. never expected to succeed
SO well. Don't you think it is lovely? The
shade from these blue curtains is the real
mazarine blue, as the shade appears to come