St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-31
Fatherly Advice.

|
script is writing a series of letters to his
sou. Below we give No. 6:
My Dear Boy-I find myself unable
to resist the strong desire that is forev-
er impelling me to the writing desk.
My thoughts are ever on you, who are
each day giving fresh proof of the tran
scendent genius that dwells within you,
and it is only 10y this corr OrIespondence
that any overpOwering pride and graft
ficatien can find relief.
purpose to-day, with your kind per-
mission, to say few words in regard to
your bearing in public, more especially
the public street. Think not, however,
my dear boy, that | should presume to
lay down rules for you to follow. Far
be it from my thought to suppose my
self competent to dictate to one of your
very considerable and widely diversi-
fed ability. That were ridiculous in
deed. No, No; | merely desire to re-
mark upon certain cXcellences of de-
pertinent observed in you, more in self
qualification than in attempting to paint
the lily of your gallantry or gild the
refined gold of your polite department.
| You will allow me to say, my dear
boy, that your ideas of what constitutes
| gallantry and poiteness in the public
thOrOughfare aIe Numerically opposed
to the antiquated notions from which |
find it impossible to free myself; but
that is only added proof of my incOm-
| petence us Il teacher of one not labOring
under like disadvantage, but whose
ideas in this regard are such as would
astOnish and put to the blush all the
Old-faShiOned masters of department.
To begin, then, without further waste
of words, am very much pleased that
You have so far overcome your natural
mOdesty as to smoke in the streets. |
will not deny that | was somewhat tax
en- aback upon first witnessing your
performance but as | have since as
certained-partly from your mates, but
mostly through yOurself-that fashions
have changed since my young days, [
have SO far overcome my old-fogy pre-
| judice as to look upon it with some
thing like complacency, and shall no
doubt in time be able to esteem the in
novating practice at its full deserts.
1t does certainly give one "dashing
look" to borrow your language, to pass
along the sidewalk with thick, smoky
wake reaching far to the rear. 1t sug-
! =
motive, if you will allow me. And you
do well, my boy, in choosing cigarettes,
! for two very good reasons that occur to
me. There are no doubt other reasons
| equally good, if not better. Nv reasons
are these {: The cigarette, from its color,
is more noticeable than a cigar could
be; and being of paper, the smoke
evolved from it is vastly more volu-
mious than the smoke from Il cigar
| Hence it follows that none whom you
meet can fail to perceive that you are
indulging in manly practice, ard none
who follow you can fail to fill their
lungs with the fragrant smoke of the
! burning tobacco and paper. 1t pleases
me to find my son SO expert with the
cigarette; when he shall have become
proficient with the pipe--which he as
sures me he has even thus early in life
partially mastcred-my Joy will be
complete.
If there be any one attribute at all
comparable with that / have been deal
ing with, it is chewing. / make 10
doubt that you will soon become an ex-
pert at this truly gentlemanly accom-
| plishment. Already have noticed that
you are not utterly at fault in this re-
| gard. The pleasure afforded me when
the aroma of tobacco was waited to nv
n0strlls while cOnversing with you, is
cqualIed only by that experienced when
l have seen the elected amber Juice
sprinkle the drawing-room carpet or the
mat of the horse car. Your future as a
chewer is pregnant with hope.
| But there are other matters | would
touch upon. 1t is certainly very kind
OF you, as well as very polite, to stand
| upon the street corners, that you NAV
| be seen and admired by the young la
dies. 1t is an inestimable privilege that
| you thus accord to them SO unselisblv.
lour free exhibition of manly beauty
| and manly grace is no doubt appreciat-
| ed by the sex. And not only do YOU
| give pleasure to the ladies in this re-
gard, but in another also. As thev wit
| ness your eugrOssed gaze at them as
/ they pass, they cannot but feel thrill
/ of Joy at being thus made the cynosure
/ Of youT observations.
Your thoughtful kindness is discover
! ed again in the pains to which you put
| yourself to prevent any OF your iustruc-
| tive conversation being lost to such la
/ dies as are in yOur vicinity. / make uu
doubt that you find it very exhaustine
/ to speak in so loud a voice, and foI
that reason Ihonor you all the more for
your disiuterestcd public spirit. II
your words take the form of commend
alton of the face or form of the lady
passing, as they frequently do, hen
pleasure must be great indeed.
Good-by, my dear boy.
From your fond father.