Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-02
THE VICTIM OF A PREJUDICE.

THE VICTIM OF A PREJUDICE.
The other night, at the christening of
my Cousins third baby. somebody
asked this conundrum: "Why do our
people resemble the Rothschilds?'
'tBecause they prefer to marry in the
family" was the happy reply. 1 didn' t
join in the laugh which followed, but
there were plenty there that did. You
might search the world over and not
find q jollier, lighter hearted community
than ours; and the very business we
follow gives us a superiority. over the
generality of our fellow-creatures. We
can afford to snap our fingers at the
grim array of melancholy superstitions
and fancies that have been handed
down from one generation to another.
What other people avoid and tremble
at, we make part and parcel of our ex-
istence; and though familiarity breeds
no contempt, it certainly engenders a
hardy philosophy, and makes us proof
against weak misgivings and forebod-
ings. We marry our cousins because
they have been brought up to look upon
the business as an heirloom; to foster,
adern, extend it; lend the resources of
their minds to its neatness and success
When Cousin Sue was studying over
her futing invention, more beautiful,
rosy, fresh, dimpled, lively creature it
would be hard to find; yet she spent
the most of her time in the ware-rooms.
She had to be there to study the effect.
She didn't mind it; it was difficult to
keep her away. And there was Aunt
Cynthia; why, she'd take the greatest
interest in any new style that was agreed
upon, and come down herself in the
early part of the day to criticise and
give her opinion. 1t never seemed to
interfere with her appetite, or digestion,
or recreation. Of course these were in
the family; and where did foolishly
was to fall in love out of the family. To
confess the TRUTH. l was so humored
and praised and petted and befooled
that none of my own people seemed
good enough for me. l was decidedly q
handsome boy, and of style of comeli-
ness that was just the thing for our line
of trade. As long back as can re-
member, the folks were always praising
the clear pallor of my complexion, my
large, dark. melancholy eyes, and a
certain sympathetic expression that
was in its way invaluable. grew tall
and shapely; my manner, of course,
WAS IuOO6I6O GuOSe Vi our D6SG
and most successful people; my voice
was naturally excellent, and the deep
chest tones were cultivated to rare de-
ing of striking out new path for my
self, or questioning the wisdom of my
forefathers in selecting their branch of
trade, /, on the contrary, was proud of
the partnership offered me by my father,
-. a Oh fho h tv-of 80 po
as Clay g. Son owed its greatest success
to the SON. At twenty-five considered
that Mortimer Clay was an extremely
enyiable young fellow, and in our circle
had the world at his feet. Ali had he
been content to inger therein these
melancholy memoirs would never have
been written, for have jotted down this
brief but bitter experience so that a fell
low-mortal in q like position to mine
may profit by it, and not venture be-
yond the safe and salutary precincts of
the tried and trustworthy.
At twenty as said before, had
conquered my part of the world, and
longed for fresh field of endeavor.
Some relations of ours had settled out in
Colorado, and had long been anxious to
see me on visit that would combine
business and pleasure. I arranged eve
rything SO that 1 could leave my father
with very little to do, and on just such
bright and beautiful morning as this
took passage for the West. The jour
ney was begun in sentimental frame of
mind. Upon going down to the ware
rooms to leave some final orders, I
found Cousin Sue experimenting the
handling of3her new invention. re-
member perfectly well even how she
was dressed of course l notice these
things 1nore than the generality of men.
A shot silk and wool combining the
colors- of old gold and dusty green set
off her beautiful complexion to advant-
age, and when came in the crimson
deepened in her cheek; her big black
eyes softened, and fixed themselves up
on mine in pleading way that 1 won
der / could have resisted. A triangular
bit of India muslin trimmed with deep
Valenciennes was tied loose about her
pretty throat, and the saucy way that
girls had of wearing those Gainsbor-
ouch hats with long sweeping ostrich
plumes was particularly becoming to
Cousin Sue. 1 thought 1 had never seen
her looking SO bright and handsome,
and toE her SO. I n@zer could blurt