Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-06

pIOse anu verse.
81 must not philosophize my
reader to sleep. We have had plen-
ty of happiness and rest and fun
here. Night before last Mr.. Bar
rett was deceived by his own art.
After dark, while we were at late
supper, a rap on the outside door
demanded an answer, and Lawrence
himself went to meet the caller
for it might be some awful tramp.
There stood a most forlorn and al
most fearful girl, who must sec Mrs.
Barrett. Mr.. Barrett attempted a
mild request that Mrs. Barrett be
excused, but the stranger continued
to advance and to demand an inter-
view with the chieflady of the COM
pany. thought of Charlotte Cor
day, and'began to look for the CLEAN
Of dagger. With quick boldness
Barrett was about to grapple with
the mad girl, when one of the
daughters cried out, 'Oh, it's Lida!'
What laughter followed 1t is suf-
6cient to say that the beautiful
daughter of a neighbor had acted
well her part upon that evening
stage, and made a fiction seem a
truth.
"One evening some brother act
orS called in for a chat-Stuart
Robson and Frank Mayo. Robson
was full of fun and animation.
Mayo of reyerie. Mayo and Bar
rett had recently come upon Per-
sian poem of great beauty, and Mr..
Mayo became enthusiastic over its
light and depth. AS it has only
recently been translated, it will
soon become widely known; but |
must defer to some other letter the
debate over its merits. / pointed
out to Mayo my favorite stanza; he
then gave his choice by memory,
for he knew it all.
81 am quite pleased at the religi-
GUS air that fills this Barrett cot
tage. A clergyman Of even more rig.
id views might well declare that the
peace and promise Of God are here
Beautiful as the whisperings of the
sea without, and beautiful as all the
flowers about the house, were the
words of the daughters Of the actol
when they, in turn, said grace a
the table where so much love ant
friendship met. Mr.. Barretts owl
religion is rational and modern
the religion Of his wife and daugh
ters is very tolerant but very de
vout. The wave Of modern infidel
ity has not reached his home
Here the theater and the altar, fol
once, at least, blend.
"Mrs. General Custer forms ont
of our group. Her work in New
York as the secretary of some wo
mans art association has helped
make her overcome the calamity
that separated her from her idol
ized husband. The world is ne
longer charming, but it is tolcrablt
and peaceful. The doors of thil
cottage are open to her when shC
longs for week of rest and Of kline
wOrdR. Having no relations or
earth, this cottage gives her {
mother and sisters. Her forehead
ls marked by trouble, but her face
is'quite attractive.
"Has not the drama fallen upor
better days? Has not the world
in its mighty progress, led the stage
upward until it calls to its service
better men, and places before thu
lppblic pprer thought and specta
cles? Recall the excellence now
living, and the excellence now dead
/ WHOSE names are written on The
columns Of the modern theater
What must We clergymen think o.
a profession which Hpfolds before
ps such names as Miss C4Shman
Nine Ristori, Miss Morris, Mrs
Lander, Miss Bateman, Mary An,
laerson, Barrett, Booth and Mayoi
| And What about those men like
Jefferson and Robson, who 50 charm
by laughter and tears the hard-toil
jng multitude? have for many
wears past cherished no doubt thai
these gifted ones form part of the
worlds noble army of toilers, ant
that theis work is a part of tha
production-that hAryest Of graini
and fruits-which springs up from
ltle God-made intellect The paint
eE, the Musician, the poeL thu
moralist, the actor, oil work to
gether to make life yield up III
worth. The soul is SO great tina
all these orators 4re Geeded that it
covers Of apprehension ana hSBpi
ness Bay be known; and the GER
tainty then is that We ehall 60 from
porch and gallery and hall An(
theater and sanctuary with thu
story of man only half told us, 81
vast is its subject and so deep it
mystery
--a.-e-,Y--
J A Hiss r oui a King.
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