The Portland daily press., 1879-02-22
Y0rick's Drawer.

3D." writes to ask: "Will Yorick please
inform reader if the following is a correct
quotation aud from what it is taken?
'Ihat life is long, which answers fss great end.''
The quotation is correct, and is taken
from Young's Night Thoughts, line 773 Of
Night V. 1t is gwen by Bartlett and Alll-
bone both. The same thought is expressed
Ill Festus "a poem which once had great
renowD, because it expressed old thoughts in
an exaggerated way and judiciousy INDUCED
in bIasphemy-
"Life's but means unto an end The end,
Beginn ng, mean, and end to all things-God."
This was once considered poetry.
-"Quercus," (there are appalling poten-
italics OF puus in the word) suggests Com
muuism as relief to the rich from the bur-
dens imposed upon them. Quercus mis-
takes. 1t is not the abolition OF the rich, but
The amelioration of their condition that is
desired. The guillotne doubtless is a speedy
cure for the headache, but not remedy
largely sought after by those afflicted with
the mlgraine. Besides, Communism is but q
make-shift, for after an equal division Of
property has been effected, some men will 90
on to accumulate and some TO dissipate, aud
soon all things will be as before.
Yorick has an experimental knowledge Of
Communism, and in Consequence a direct
aud personal antagonism to it. He is, in a
small way, man of property, having ac-
qulred by industry and sagacity consider
able stock of pipes representing divers nation
altes and schools OF art. He has circle of
acquaintances (tor the most part, acquired
without sagacity) desirable in many respects
but unfortunately holding advanced Com
munistic views in regard to property IN pipes.
They insist with much vehemence and with
brilliant, though shallow logic, upon per
capita division of Yorick's wealth-arguing
ingeniously that twenty pipes are mole than
one mao can smoke at a time; that the pos
session OF so many establishes monopoly and
gives rise to invidious distinctions; that un-
fortunate people are actually suffering to-day
from the want of even T. D and thus are
deprived of the God-given right to smoke;
that the materials, wood and clay, out of
which pipes are fashioned, are the common
heritage and property OF mankind, and that
no one has the right to become bloated
pipe-holder.
In moment Of weakness ;Yoriek yielded
the vital principle at issue and made of his
plug OF Gold-Bar family loaf to which all
corners were welcome. We are all fools at
some time in our life-usually beginning
very early and leaving of very late, like
hot day in June. So he is now reproached
with the vice OF insincerity, with cowardce
in that he neglects to carry out an admitted
proposition to its ultimate terms. He is
told that he is illogical, and taunted with his
inability to show why the line Of community
in property should be drawn at the tobacco.
plug. Heis called uupatriotlc because be
doesn't pay taxes on his possessions. he
has even been accused of taking advantage
of the necessities of the needy and grinding
the face OF the poor because he once incau-
tiously boasted that he had secured a fay
orite pipe at bargain, the tobaceonist who
sold it stating in the public prints that, want
ing money, he would dispose of his stock be-
low cost. By the way, the tobacconis, lied,
but as the statement of the fact seems to be
shutiiing evasion it not be pursued
here.
Naturally, under these circumstances.
Yoriek sympathizes with capital and abhors
Communism. He finds II easy to believe
that the man who has accumulated thous-