Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27
A RAGGED REGISTER.

author, Mise Anna E. Dickinson. has put forth
Journal lHarper Brothers. OF piquant and
picturesque experiences, the spicy fruits OF her
MANY lecturtng tours. The aim OF the b)ok is
primarily to entertain, and 1t does this most
comp!elelS. The style is brief, terse and rapid,
as naturally DENTS tottings made to the music
OF the locomotive. There Is not a slow page
DetWeen the covers Of the volume not even
wnen me i movement is up grade, for then the
knows anything Of Miss Dickinson. The
DOCK VIII fird wide welcome among the
fortune, at this day, to meet with really
original and fresh contribution to the tradi-
tonal stock. But 1t is by no means a book
OF mere idle pleasantly; the author is never
-E1thout purpose, and it Is often the very ener-
gy with which she drives against thesSTall Of
popular prejudice, blgotry and wrong that
strkes out the most brilliant scntlllatonS or her
narrative. The student OF character will md
not few curious specimens in these pages,
Here, for Instance is one Miss Dickinson had
reached college town 1--WE wish she would give
its name) on lecture appointment: The hotel
ing, to the house OF one of the college dons
where she was assured she should have all the
freedom as well as the
COMFORTS OF A HOTEL.-SupDer was on the
table. supper waited none, but was desired
20 sit at the board, and 50 heard whatI had
never before heard, grace before meat, of
seven minutes in length. The meat being eaten,
listened TO what had never before liSteae1-
aborevia, ed or lengthy-thanks returned after
meat.
Having tau ed for WHILE vanished to nv
room, and returned In battle array for the eve-
ming, / halted in the dining room for cup
OF coffee and a raw egg, SIN Ill private flask In
hand.
A suspicious glance. An ominous silence.
Then Il e query
Does that flask hold alcoholic stimulant?
brandy. perhaps. or wine?"
Inwardly chattenng, but outwardly bold,
since knew couldn't swallow the raw egg
without the sherry, Strove TO placite my for
midable host with feeble Joke
at you please. sir, 1t is nothing oery wicked
nothing worse than essence Of grape"
''Ah said the great man. relaxing, essence
OF grape? Very well, very well. | feared it
was VIII e or some kindred abomination;' and
that settled. l was allowed to swallow my
coffee and egg and essence OF grape, but not
until mine host had spared me the trouble of
Silent or private thankfuneSS by the kindly In
behalf
Went to the hall in subdued frame of mind,
med1ta1lng whether 1t would not be advisable
to. omit the mild provocations to laughter that
mere and there cropped out on the surface of
an otherwise serious discourse, and was
sure OF the right path when, not the president
'spresidng officer Of the meeting, In place OF
an Introduction, offered a prayer of twenty
seven minutes as marked by the clock ticking
In full ew-in the course of which he besought
that 1thfS young woman might be brought to
see that no temporal prosperity, nor even the
accomp ishment OF seeming good justified her
in an open defiance of the ordinances of God,
and the dlvtnely appointed sphere OF her SEX
whatever that may mean.
perniCious effects were removed from every
body'S memory by another petition and the
singing sing OF sold Hundred" dlsmally out Of
When reached home was in no mood for
religious exercises fact probably patent to
my host, for | had grace said, In my behalf,
over my SUPPER and thanks returned when
had completed the demolition of the viands set
before me-after which was summoned, willy
nilly, to family prayers, and gained my room In
frame OF MUD that BODIED i'll to my furniture
Improved the next day, when, tired and but
Dalf rested, was summoned from refreshing
slumberS TO appear by caudle-light at morning
prayerS-a SD nm0nS which | ne elected, and
turned my b Irn1ng head for "a little more
sleep" but Was speedily cured of the delusion
voice at my door to the effect that "Pa wishes
to know If you are not ready7"
NO. M dear" called In return-"not near
ready. Ask him not to wait for me-"
PatJer patter OF small feet down the stairs.
Tramp, tramp of large feet up the stairs
through the hail Halt at the door. Summons.
"You Will greatly oblige US If. you will come
down as soon as possible. 1t is rule from
which nsrer devlate, to have every member of
my household, unless Frustrated by sickness,
at family pray ers."
'Mercifuny, am not member Of your
household mumbled l. but was too wrathy to
again fiji oblivion, and when In course of time
] appeared below stairs, To- the assembled
family portentOusly frowning, and the Christ
Ian S'l services were awaiting me; After which
my way to the cars with the distinct Impress
sion that had seen deal OF dissertation OF sa-
Likewise it struck me that it would be well If
some people would allow other people the
privilege OF obeying the scrlptural Injunction
OF working out ones olcn salvation.
AN IRREPREssIBLR.-Speedlng over the Michi-
gan Central one OF the beings who must ex-
press himself or die, having watched me fun
over my window till had at last c)nquere
the catch and secured 3 mouthful OF fresh air
abandoned his seat on the other side oil the car,
crossed and planted himself in front of me and
I'm RI a1l Nr cd onGh
Presently he stirred. shrugged his shoulders.
turned up his coat collar, and remarked, sits
chilly"
AS the az announcement was apparently made
to creation generally, felt no call to respond.
Dissatisfied at the silence he faced round and
in .WSSIa Won like to have me shut that WIN
dow?"
"No," said l. 81 wouldn't"
For space silence.
"Did you want that window open?"
81 did," responded l, land do
''Tain't so warm over here as 1t Is by the
stove"
az said 'twan't so warm here as over to the
stove wherel was sitting, You'd Just better
let me shove that down." perSuaSively, and
stretching out a brawny hand:
"No"
"But tell you the cold comes In lively" sur
veylng the crack, half filled by the magazine
stuffed into it, leaving open mere mousehole.
.I'm not as comfortable here as was over by
the stove"
suggested. 1T wasn't necessary for you to
come here, TO begin with"
Another pause fresh charge.
81 say, a1nt you eold?"
"No"
"Ain't you afraid of taking cold?"
"No."
"You haven't got anything the matter with
your @E lungs have your"
"Throat all right?"
eyes"
A cessation of hostilities. Truce soon
broken.
81 say, hadn', you better let me put down
that Window
"No."
breathing space, a vigorous hitch to the
fur coat-collar, longing look toward the fiery
dragon OF iron and coal.
and you amt afraid?"
No"
"H, h-h'm-you call yourself strong minded,
now don't our"
81 would be sorry to call myself weak
minded"
Speak Don't your"
eyes"
"Make lectures?"
.Yes."
sect paid pretty well9"
"Yes."