The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-02-05
Selfrf Story.
AUNT BETKlA.
BY BELLE c GREENE.

It may be that our old-fashioned aunt
needs no introduction perhaps you have
met her in the city at some recent ar,
exhibition, or picture sale, where she sa,
among the crowd, little bewildered bul
Sufficiently alert, listening to the glib
chatter OF the critics as they discussed
the merits of some 81 900 landscapes
The same being as she declared to the
friend accompanying her, "only pictel
OF what anybody can see for hothin up
to Crsney Holler," where she lives
Why" said she regarding the great
work of art with one eye severely shut
up, 'jest 60 to our back door OF sum.
mer. morning and stand and look, and
there you have it for all the world
"The same smooth, green .medders,
with the pretty brooks windin' through
'em, and on both sides, to the right and
left, the paster lands where the cattle are
fed, so peaceful and contented then, way
off in tue distance, them sollem-lookin'
mountains, with the shadders creepin'
round 'em, OF. restin on their tops; and
all the time the sun shines bright and
pleasant down below 10 the valley.
81 do declare, could a'most believe
the man stood In ORR back door when be
painted that picter!
"It is y handsome view and no mis-
take; but don't it seem pity to spend
money Jest for a picter when We could
buy small farm-a live pIcter, as II
were, for $1,000"
She sees much in our city to disap
prove. Most of the so-called modern
improvements are denominations to Aunt
Bethia.
The elecric light finds no favor in her
eyes
"How must our maker look ont p
she asks Indignantly.
SIT wouldn't be 80 bad il they only
used it as they do gas or kerosene lie
but when they come to light up oil out.
doors with 1t. and make it take the place
OF the heavenly bodies that's what
call impious! Nothin' more nor less
than tryin' to outdo the Creator!
"When the moon and stars don'l
shine let folks walk in The dark or else
carry lantern" says she whimsically.
The telephone she regards as an infer.
nal machine, and insists that there is
something supernatural about it.
She has never been prevailed upon to
use it once.
81 won't have anything to do with i,
in any way or SHAPED" says she. '.Jes'
as II any human invention could do what
that thing does!'
She always keeps safe distance from
it, as IL it we're liable to ego of" at any
moment to play some diabolical trick
upon her. ,
She does not approve the 20 nncy
Method. In our schools and much pre-.
fers to have the children learn their les.
sons from the books and recite them
standing in a nice straight line, with
their toes to o crack in the floor. She
would like more prominence given to or
der and to the ten commandments; and
she eadly misses the dinner baskets and
tbs water pail and tin dipper.
She does not like the new version o!
the scriptures; her mothers Bible i:
good enough for her; and she takes nc
interest in the great controversy except
to mourn that there should be such dis
orderly goings on in the world.
She went to the opera of "Patience,' u
and her womanly soul was shocked be.
yond repair at the conduct of the love.
sick maidens she felt personally humil
lated and disgraced and sat there with
burning cheeks, not daring to 60 and
too indignant to stay and see it through
Words were thrown away on her
"All the words In the English language,
she declared to US, "couldn't excuse Dl
explain eway such shameful exhibition
such immodest behavior on the part o
them young girls. The ,rollopesl' sale
she angrily, "where in the world wer,
their mothers2 Poor things, though
she. added as an afterthought, "perhap:
they hadn't any mothers; ! can't believe
they had.'' s,s s,-l
Es,heticism and the Renaissance. q,
she anders's snds them are only delusIonl
Of the adversary, invented to ruin veal
and idle souls who loitef IN the by path,
! of life, and she believes the only saliva
ton tor such is to go to work.
"Let 'em do something practical sh,
will say. "If they're so main fond o
sunao wers olet- 'em 60 to raisin 'em By
the cart.loadl THEY'RE excellent CHECKER
fodder as everybody knows did Sc,
a whole acre on 'em once all CROWN to
gether; they was in full blow,and looked
cur us enough with their big round face
tnrHed toward the sun. O'csr Wilde
says, you know, that they resemble
lion; and they do look about as wise an,
KNOWN.
"There's nothin' like work for keepin
girls out O. mischief" she is fond Of say
ing.
| "When our girls leave school let Zen
take right hold and help their mother
with the housework and the plain SEWN
and takin' care of the baby, and the
won't be hankerin' to paint old pots an
liara or tn pmhrOider aaOa oraan curtain