The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-04-21
Vancouver Independent.
OFFICIAL PAPIR OF CRY AND COUNTY.
Vancouver, Clarke County, Washington
Territory.
First Trousers.


of manhood, the first serious step made
in life, is the wearing of trousers.
The first pair of trousers is an event
desired by the father and dreaded by the
mother. To the mother, it is the begin
ming of the end. She looks with moist
eyes at the little petticoat forever aban-
doned, and says to herself: II have lost
my baby; my reign has ended; and, alas!
how soon. He will have new tastes, new
desires; he is no more mine, his individ-
uality asserts itself, he is somebody, he
is boy"
The father, on the contrary, is charm
ed. He laughs in his sleeve as he looks
Mt the slender calves which emerge from
the trousers. He feels the little boy so
clearly outlined under the new garments,
and says to himself: "How we'll he is
formed, the jolly little dog-he will have
my broad shoulders and sturdy legs
how strongly he stands!" He would like
to see him in boots, and it would not
take much to make him buy the boy a
pair of spurs. For the first time he sees
himself reflected in his little boy. He
looks at him as at picture hung in new
light, and for the first time, too, he finds
it excessively agreeable to call him ''my
SON.
As for the baby himself, he is intoxi-
Gated, glorious, triumphant, but all the
same little embarrassed by his arms
and legs, and, if we might hint it with
out offense, very like a young goose
which has been plucked at the approach
of warm weather.
The greatest annoyance OF the poor
little man his is past. How many grown
men have been annoyed in the same man
ner! He feels deeply that trousers in
volve obligations-that he must take on
new ways, new gestures; if possible q
new tone of voice. He even begins to
ape the ways of his father, who, perceiv-
ing it is not one wit displeased. He es.
says masculine gestures, and this strug-
gle between his latent babyhood and his
would-be manhood, gives him the most
comical air in the world. His petticoat
follows him persistently and almost en-
RACES him.
Dear little trousers. / love you, for
you are faithful friends, and we meet
you at every turn in life, with all your
gentle following. Are you not the re-
Election of each new promise which
tickles our vanity?
4Ouy y OhiNSAs WAO AOoh o. y OuA
incipient mustache in your mirror, as
you don for the first time epulet and
spur; what feeling moves you as you
hear your sword click at your side?
Belted, booted and brushed, elbows well
back, your kept over the ear, you walk
through the streets; can you resist look
ing into the dark windows as you pass?
A Renaissance Of your first trousers, is
it not?
You will find them again, these first
trousers, when you are made captain,
and receive decoration. Again, later,
when, gray-mustached old soldier, you
will take little wife to rejuvinate you.
Again you will put them on, but this
time the little wife will help you to wear
them.
Ny friend, the day when you have moth
ing more to do with them, you will be
In the Gust, low lying,
for all man S life is embodied in this gar
ment. Life holds little else for man
but to put on his first trousers, take them
off, and die while looking at them.
Is it true wonder, that the greater
part of our joys have no more serious
cause than the joys of childhood? Are
we so silly? Yes, my friends, we are
silly enough to think We are wise. We
never quite get rid of our baby clothes;
some little rag always stays by US. A
trife of babyhood remains with us all,
or, to phrase it better, we are but babies
grown big.
And you, prettiest OF woman, does not
each new season bring its joys with its
new costumes? Do not say these Joys
are but secondary, for their influence is
powerful upon both your temper and
character. Would it be rude to ask why
last Sundays sermon was so logical,
persuasive, elegant? Why your blue
eyes were filed with tears as you came
out of church, and why you were impell-
ed to kiss your husband as soon as you
reached home? You know as well as 1,
madam, that upon that day that charm
ing little old-gold bonnet (which is
charming, I admit, and makes you twice
rs pretty as usual was worn for the first
time.
These are the things that can not be
explained; childish, if you will, bat
sort of childishness of which one cannot
rid himself.
will give you an instance: When re-
turning the other Gay from hearing one
of our most eloquent divines, pulpit
luminary, your emotions were absolutely
different. A general discomfort pervaded
your being. doubts assailed you, nerv-
Gus. irritsbility seized you at each phrase