The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-06


nevertheless becoming, and whose race
showed unmistakable signs of cultiva-
ton and intelligence. In practicing her
piano lesson that morning she took
more than usual pains. She was NOT
embarrassed, as she would have been II
s'gentleman were within hearing;
but she could not help desiring mascu-
line admiration, if only from &C nobody
but the painter.'' Afterward she heard
him singing, with excellent musical
taste, all the operate morceaux she
had been practicing. and marveled to
find a mechanic with such a knowledge
of the opera. Repassing from the par
lor to the dining-room, she took closer
survey of the man, and saw that he had
too much in his face to be taken IN at a
glance. 1t vexed her that she should be
interested in a common workman. "
He had no right to interest her, and she
did not seem to attract the slightest no
tice on his part.
"Our house-painter is handsome and
sings operate airs,' said she to her
mother at dinner. ..
"What business have you to know
whether he is handsome or notPh
GA house painter is a man, and | shall
marry man some day, ma mere!"
Thereupon ensued terrible quarrel.
The painter was rather slow. He was
not the most skillful workman ever
known, and the job lasted a good while.
Mrs. Bland took occasion to remark
upon his laziness, and Flora found her
self defending him. He read while eat
inc hiu xr,h,oh 10 a
with him in a dinner-pail, and once,
when he left his book by accident over
night, she examined it. 1t was volums
of Goethe's poems, in German, and on
a fiy-leaf was brief inscription: I" Hal
Rivers. from his friend and gossip, Paul
Ryder" a3
"Paul Ryder, the poet and authorP"
wondered Flora; "our painter has had
lofty friends"
If any young lady among my readers
has been brought up so aristocratically
that she has never found any society she
could mngle with, she may be able to
comprehend Flora BANDS situation.
Here was person of evident refinement
and education, who had undoubtedly en-
joyed better advantages than her own,
at some past era but whose present po-
sition was such as to place an apparent
gulf between them. The romances she
wrought in conjecturing the circum-
stances would have. made volume of
excellent reading; and her interest
! deepened the more she tried to sup
press it. By the end of week, she was
astonished and frightened at the persist
ency with which this well-built, bright
faced young fellow, with his almost
jaunty air and expressive voice, haunted
her imagination.
As she came up behind him one day,
unnoticed, she caught him singing unus-
ually we'll He stopped when he saw
her, and seemed just the least bit en-
barrassed.
"You are fond of music, friend" she
said, boldly.
Extrayagantly."
"And you know some good songsp'
81 haye heard good music.'
$3.50. 1t is some time, now, since
1 have heard any professional singing
sDo you like your trade?"
An odd smile came over his face
"Yes-it gives me bread and butter"
"You think me impertinent."
"No. One has right to question
ones workmen.n
"And especially in your case.''
"Why SOP"
"Because you are unlike the work
men have seen hitherto. The carpen
tiers who made this new woodwork die
not sing opera music, nor read Ger
man."
"You find me singular, thenp"
eyes" ......
"And find you so. You are the frs
person whom have met, since I-sinct
l adopted this trade, who has recalled
my life heretofore"
"Then you have not been painter
long?"
"About two months"
"If | ask what you were before that
would it be impertinent?''
Rather; but l will tell you. was {
fooln' .,........
"Well, you had plenty of company
The kind is common"
"You are cynical"
At this point Mrs. BANDS step wa,
heard approaching, and Flora termi
mated the conversation by going into the
parlor. Curiously enough, she could
not get through her piano exercise hal
so well as usual. The knowledge thai
the painter was listening confused hel
now--she felt, somehow, as if work
man might be gentleman, after ALL
A few nights later the widow sur
prised her daughter standing on the
rear piazza with the house painter chat
ting Familiarity, and admiring the sun
set. The blow nearly killed her.
1t is strange that prejudice should b.
such a tremendous power as it is Phi
losophy teaches that "Man is q reason
ing being" but is there any other crea.
ture in the whole animal kingdom thai
likes and dislikes, admires and despise:
with so little reason as man? The
hatreds that exist everywhere between
classes-between sects, trades, fami.
lies, schools, Compartments, nations
etc., are as inexplicable as they are
humiliating- Whence are they derived
OF what use are they? Why are they
perpetuated? If waited for rationa
answer, should have written my last
word, for these questions admit only Of
the answer OF prejudice-"Because!"
Mrs. Bland, when she found her dauch.
ter associating with "common paint