Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-12
CONTRASTS
From Tell-Tale Windows Sketches
Made Daring the Recent "Wef
Spell"

For the Memphis Appeal.
I wish 10 premise that l am not prying
woman. Wouldn't be caught peepiDg from
behind my own blinds TO see what my next
door neighbor is getting out of the mar
ket-wsgon for dinner, for worlds Wouldn't
crane my neck by the thoussndth fraction
Of an inch to discover what a dropped cur
tain wishes to conceal. Haven't even Curl
o,ity enough TO seek to pierce the veil OF the
future, not at all sure that there is any dsz-
ling vision of brightness behind that veil for
the majority of US, and quite satisfied that
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Nevertheless, as very few folks care 10 live
behind blinds nowadays; as the reporter
and the newsmouger have the epiree of every
circle, and all the world seems content to &C.
knowledge itself stage, wherein the men
and women OF the day are willing to strut in
the full fare and glare OF the foot lights of
publicity; and, if windows will tell tales,
why should not | gather them up as / ind
them, some sad, some joyous, some funny,
some pathetic, all OF them more or less fitted
10 point a moral or adorn tale?
Stopping along through the mud the other
day, wondering il anywhere else on this big
football we inhabil Memphis could find
competitor in the Manufacture of her own
peculiar quality Of slush, specializing idly as
" INC CdPdCltN Vi tnC bpOul luIOuSu WHICH
it would run freely; gazing with admiring
wonder at the women who tripped along
with their cargoes of mud weighing each
foot down to the "water-line," found my
self Internationally staring into a window
that belonged TO little diDgy brown cottage,
so unpre possessing in its exterior that II /
had been asked summarily to "place" its &C.
cupants would have said plasterers, or car
penters, or drsymen, or some OF that sort OF
burden. bearers, who are not permitted by
the arbitrary conditions OF their lot to be con-
scious OF anything but an anatomy which re-
quires so many pounds of putrimenl and so
many hours of rest. But the window told
me different tale. The glass of it shone
with cleanliness. The little brown shades
were each drawn up TO precisely the same
altitude. A small, spider-legged stand stood
conspicuously near one Of them, upon which
stood gilt easel, supporting a blue velvet
panel, against which reposed a perfect rose
in wax, tied with the palest OF pink satin
bows. At the other window a little wicker
work rocking-chsir stood, empty; on
it baby's unfinished flannel pet
ticoaf, that somebody who was not visible TO
me was embroidering but had thrown down
for the moment. The hearth was clean swept
and bright fire burned in the CRATE. Some
body ("Moiher Hubbard" probably, of the
Avalanche, who has been swapping al mel
will say that / certainly must have stopped
"stock" still 10 take all this in. But de-
clare / did not. Windows tell their tales
very rapidly, and this one gave me TO under.
stand, as l strolled slowly past, that Solo
mons prayer had been answered beneath
that roof-"neither poverty nor riches" was
there. But somewhere behind those modest
brown shades l know a true specimen OF
sweet womanhood reigued supreme aud the
spirits OF love and peace abode there in con-
tent, notwithstanding the plain ugliness OF
the outer casket.
Pausing at a crossing TO gaze in despair at
the whitish stream OF seml, fluid consistency
that had obliterated even the tracks of We
hicles, and to wonder, firstly, il ii was ad-
missibIe nowadays TO hold your skirts up
in both hands; secondly, why ] could not
discover 4 current OIL Jefferson street, j
found myself face 10 face with window
anxious enough TO tell me its tale. The
house was Of respectable size and dimen.
sions. The windows, whose shutters were
flung wide open TO LIT in the last rays of
cloudy daylight, were curtainless, and only
obstructive 10 vision by reason OF semi
opaquensss. All the arrangements OF
first-class sitting-room were there-pictures
on the wall ornaments on the mantel shell,
an open piano. Uttered with music, a hand
some marble center table filled with books,
oyer which drop-light was shedding mel
low light through ground glass shade;
two children pounding on the piano with
counter aucss expressive Of the most demo-
niacal glee; lady reading Seaside novel
under the drop. light, with her bangs drcop-
ing over her eyes and her silk neekhaud.
kerchief all askew; a man smoking
cigar in moody abstraction near
the fireplace, where a boy with one
stocking down over his shoe was striving
10 emulate him with a make-belieye cigar
OF twisted paper. We ought to get along
here frstrate, the window said 10 me in
confidence, but sometimes there's the very
old scratch to pay. Monsieur makes plenty
of money and deals it out literally for the
benefit of his home and family, but madame