The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-31

Mrs FRASCFs HoDGsoS BURNETT is not
professional reforner, and does not write novels
'with a purpose. This only ADDS weight TO the
repeated aralgnments of the SpOils system through
the mouths OF the characters In Through One Ad-
administration. - They arc not iugged in, nor do
they oyerburden the story. 1t is simply impossible
10 write much or deeply Of Washington life, as 1t is
% live here, without being brought face 10 face
tlnualy with this monster, which spreads almost as
much misery over large portion OF the population
would the raging OF an active cvil war. The hon
orable Senators who talk 50 cOoly and glbly from
their places at the Capitol about rotation Ia OCo,
"infusing new blood, - bringing ON young people
'from an parts Of the couutry,' and the like,
must forget that they deliberately trning with
the tears the hunger the lfs.an d-death anxiety Of
hundreds IN tue Departments who depend on their
salaries for the support Of themselves and helpless
little ones, Asin the Of slavery, even II there
were no grave public reasons against II, the spols
syaem stands condemned by the Individual wretch-
elless shame, and wrong Il nnlcts. AfJuthHot,
whose character is said 10 DO study from fe,
though he may stand type for hundreds Of other
men si young, but rendered puTpOseess aud al
most reckless by the shadow Of insecurity hanging
over them over ne appr1t Ia the play tells IN the
January CENTURY tina story OF q slil sadder case a
youth who hs yeutuTed to wed cOuhdlng little
bride the pTeclriOus teuure Of his Uncial pay II
read II might recall 10 those Ligh and mighty egs
l.tors somv considerations of human sympathy and
consciousness OF the real evils they are defending
and trying 10 perpetuate'
He was attractive 20 Iue, 90 returned Lawrence
''and he WAS touching at times. lie WAS crude
and Dy no means brilliant, but there wasn't evil
8pOt Ia him, aud his beliefs were Of strength aud
magnitude 10 bring blush 10 the cheek Of the
hardened. lie recalled the dreams Of youth, aud
even la MS most uuiutellgenty ardent moments ap-
pealad 10 one Taxing an these things into consider
alton yOu viii probably that II was likely 90 be
something Ola blow ~ him to ind himself suddenly
thrown out upon the world without any resource
whatever. 80
'Ab!n exclaimed MIS-. SYyestre, earnestly
'surely you are not going ~ tell us-f'
'Ihat he lost his onlce, ~ said Lawrence.
Eyes. IhfOWn out. ReasOn-pacs wanted fUI
nUine one else. shouldn't call II good reason my
BELT. mud others Who would not call II goni iea
aUu but What arc you going 10 doE''
- Mhat ala he do f'' asked Agnes.
- lie came into my room one day, 80 answered
Lawrence, " Just AZ was leaving H. lie WAS white,
ana his lps tfenDled IA boyish way, that struck
at the moment as being rather awful. lie looked as
II he had been knOCked down. lie said 10 me Ar.
ArbuthnOi I've lOll my place. aud then after fen
seconds he added, Nh AIbutbnoi, what would you
dor 80
"I Is very cruel, said Agues at is very
haId.''
''It h as cruel az Death 90 said Arbuthnot. at
Is as hard as Life. That such iblug Is possible
that bread aud home aud hopes Of any honest hu
man creature should be used as tho sman change Of
power above hin, aud tTatcked with 10 sustain that
power aud nE " ga Us place 10 make the Of IT,
self aud It's greed is rue burning shame and the bur
den which s slung around our necks, aud Will keep
Us from staudiug with heads erect until We aTe light
j eusd OF u.