The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-07
THE MAJORS YALEDlCTIoN.

The major on a sunshiny day in the main
street OF Ballyklllrowdy was pleasant to be-
hold He was not strictly q handsome man
perhaps. but he had the air of being hand
some nlan-an air of SO much nonchalance and
good-humored triumph that it imposed upon
most people and sent them away with the no.
ton that the major was an Adonis He had
one OF the grandest figures remember to have
seen. Strength sat side by side with grace on
his broad shoulders, and the carriage of his
head was in itself sort of wonder Of high
temper and yivaclty. His mustache took q
splendid downward sweep; his hat raked a
little; the tips Of the fingers of his left hand
entered his trousers-pocket; his right hand
bore q cane, which described, as it we're of its
own volition, circles and segments of circles
He took his way smiling, and his bright gray
eyes and faultless teeth made his face look as
gay as sunshine. This when 1 come to look at
1t, reads like the description of a handsome
man; but. like the majors air, there is GER
tain imposition in it, though know not how to
lay my finger on it
Bally killrowdy was mainly owned by Miss
Vivian Blake, young lady Of charming ex-
terror, who rode to hounds under the escort Of
an ugly male second cousin, whom the major
ioathed. But such part of Ballykillrowdy AZ
not owned by the beau tiful Miss Blake was
owned Dy her ugly male second cousin, and
the popular impression was that Miss Blake
and the cousin would make match of it.
Against this popular belief the major chafed.
as Socrates might have riled up against a de-
crepit syllogism It may be said Of the major
thathe had an air of prosperity, which was
greatly more deceptive than his air of physi-
cal beauty. Had his creditors met in conclave
they might possibly have decided amongst
them problem of some interest; how did the
major live? He owned neither lands nor mes
sauges. Like his look of beauty and his air of
prosperity. his very title was misleading to the
stranger. He had hever held q commission
anywhere, in anything; but man with such a
figure ought to have been maior,-if the
rank had been created especially that he might
ornament 1t, the thing had seemed most fitting
and admirable, in short, the title was .
upon him by nature, so it seemed, and adopted
without one dissentient voice by the public of
Ballykillrowdy, and Endorsed by the members
of the ulster in lordly Belfast.
Novelists and other social moralists have
often been cynical, at small cost. with respect
to the affection entertained by an unacred gen.
tlemen for q we'll -acred lady. But, as Boo
caccio and Mr.. TennysOn will tell Won, real
attachment is not altogether impossible under
such conditions. The major was madly in
love-not with Miss Blake's landed possessions,
but with Miss Blake Time had made his first
lnroads on the poor gentlemans close cluster
ing hair. He was but two and thirty, but some
men age early, and I have never heard that q
partial or even complete badness gives safety
againet the assaults Of the grand passion. The
ugly second cousin, his own poverty, the rap
idly increasing width Of his central parting,
and Vivian's beauty and Vivian's kindness,
combined together to fret the majors heart
Yet the Irish elasticity Of his temperament
constantly pulled him out Of the depths Of de-
spondency, though it as constantly suffered
him to fall again. Spiritually, he resembled
an infant seated in that American invention,
sthe baby-jumper," and he went up and down
GU the most insignificant provocation.
In perfect seriousness, but with an Irish sense
of rhyme, he wrote ballads ON his own condi-
ton and to his mistress's eyebrow. Permit
that the muse of history conserve a verse; The
title OF this story should, perhaps, have been
Last Valediction, for during the years of his
passion he was always bidding farewell in
terms more or less affecting. to the adorable
Vivian. And as for me-, wrote the major.
after wishing Vivian all happiness, even with
the ugly second cousin:
And as for me, there's Fiji and Tahiti,
And lots of other places tit to die in;
And wneD I'm dead your smallest sigh or rity
Will reach and thrill me even where I'm lying -
1 1t was an honest passion. The poor fellow
was fairly booked. All manner Of ambitions
began to bestir themselves; for there was
more in him, or at least he thought SO, than
the helpless power to dream of good over q
bottle of the club pomade or glass of hot
Irish, as the state of the funds might order
Perhaps the title conferred upon HIM was not
I'D hang me harp on willow tree, an of
to the wars again, said the major: shut
haven't harp, or the funds to buy one; and
there's no willow tree handy, and no wars con.
venient, the Lord be good to me-"
Whether Phil Durgan, the ugly second
cousin, had or had not in his own person ex.
hausted the family stock of physical unhao.
plness, cannot tell; but I know for fac
that his sister was as pretty as Vivian herself
II knew Of anything prettier, would com.
clining days am not likely to find it. Whose
is the hand which shall, by the aid of movable
types, describe pretty girl? Mine has nc
cunning. If say that each of these young
ladies was ravishing, nineteen and Irish, have
done my best Like Rosalind and Celia. the,
learned, played, ate together, and wheresoe'ei
they went, like Junos swans, still they wen
coupled and inseparable 1t followed that il
Phil Durgan had known as much as was
known to his sister Julia, he would have know
more OF Vlvian's likings than he knew Ii
that case the ineffable satisfaction which com
monty lllumined his foggy features nigh
have dimmed little Yet, why should
triumph over ugly Phil? Your story-teller i.
rarely contented unless he fogs his rascals
Dickens, for example, gloated over the buffet,
dealt by his popular to his unpopular people
With what gusto he fogs Squeers; how re-
lolclngly he throws Wegg into the scavenger'.
cart; with what EMULATION he tells the story Of
Pecksniff's thyashing. 1t is in my power t.
administer to Mr.. Philip Durgan a horsewhip
ping such as never yet mortal man received
but as I'm strong I'll be merciful Phil. AZ thu
late Lord Lytton said Of somebody, was uelie,
than he had right to be. There is a certain
Irish type Of face which trenches perllousl,
on the aspect Of the gorilla; and Phil who va,
naturally gifted in this direction, improved hi,
chances by the disposition of his hair and
whiskers He had all tho graces of lady.
killer, as an initiative ape might have them
ne had bro9ue man might haYe hung hi
hat on, and believed that be spoke with the
purest of all possible English accents
VI was niyer taken for an Oirishman bu
wonce in my loife," Phil had been known to
say, AN that was be Polish Jew Oh met in
Hungary; an after we'd been talkin' for'r
hour or tew. Mr. Durgan,' says he, yen be
an Olrishman An what makes ye think that?
says Oh Your speech, says he. An O.
LATED at the man"
1t was before the davs of the disestablish-
ment and disendowment Of the Irish church
and the bishop of Ballykill was prosperous
and happy prelate The bishopess was a
fruitful vine, and the culver of the bishop was
somewhat tightly packed.
II
Jacks description of the rescue was real
work of art
No, no." cried the major, blushing to the
roots OF his hair s1naeed, twas nothing
He'd have got out easily wltho,a me-
Indeed, them" said Jack, I'D never have
got out at all without you. Because, :" he added
soto voce, without you I'd never have got in. .
Mr.. Geoghaghan," said the bishop, with
tears Of emotion on his cheeks, ssyou must not
stand moment in vOnr wet clOthea i,orna