Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-22
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The mysterious beings who cxercis,.
unlimited control over our dectinies
have lao name. They are simply ..thcyr'
but they are legion. Occasionally
they become them Dolly Winthrop,
il may be remembered accustomed 10
the recognition of some mysterious mex
plicable guidance in her affairs, habtu-
ally referred to them above and the
everyday influences Of most persons
lives are referable to an equally mystic
al they" What are they wearing?"
is the question that opens the season
"Arc they using ice plates for fruit?''
care they getting married in cream
color or white?' care they using tap
estry curtains?'' care they buying
Spanish leather chairs? Are they at
tending Grace Church or Trinity?'
care they wearing engagement rings
on the second or first finger?n Are
they having their hair curlcd or plaited?''
"Are they using canes in the street?'
''Do they wear roundabout collars or
turn-down?" '.Do they wear tigh,
trouscrs?" ''Do they prefer shoulder
straps To decent sleeves?' What are
the colors they are wearing this sea.
son?"
1t is bad enough when these diaboli-
cal invisibles determine the clothing,
coloring and general behavior of the
community. but it j. worse still when
they begin To say Sometimes it
is emphatic, ''they do say" or mystic.
rious, Imagine what they say?" or in
definite, 1--WE wonder what they will
say" or positive, "Oh, you know they
say so and so.
Who are they? What are they?
Where are they! What satisfaction
it would be to grind them to powder.
We might we'll introduce now form of
litany-"From they deliver us" They
are ridiculous, merciless, foolish, but
omnipotent. There is re possibility of
getting away from their influence. Now
and again some heroic soul. mighty in
the struggle for freedom. declares: Il
don't care what they say" But alas
the words are meaningless; he does
care, he must care. 1t matters not if he
be in society or out of it, in wealth or
poverty. in sickness or in health, nav,
in the coffin, they" will pursue him,
will mySteriously influence his destiny.
They will go TO the very confines of the
grave with him, and who knows that
they may not accompany him to the
waters beyOndl
What shall we do about it, Can we
do anything? Can we, mighty in num-
Der and unity, overcome and brOwbeat
this ubiquitous "they?' We trow not.
Rather letus give up such an attempt. Let
us pander to they" let us bow down
aud worship they" let us do what they
would have us or stand in terror of our
reputation, dearer to us than life itself.
il they disapprove of us.
: Why do we spend more than We can
afford? Because 'fhey" expect 1t of US.
Why do we 90 to immoral plays? Why
do we paint and powder? Why do we
cringe and fawn? Why do we marry
for money and rue it ever after? Why
do we 60 to races? Why do we read
lola and Ouida? Why do we quarrel
with our servants, and hate our neigh
bors, and turn up our noses at those
who do not wear diamonds? Why dc
we speculate, and make haste TO grow
rich by short cuts and unworthy lodges
Why do we put ID. ID. after our names
without earning il? Why do we vote
against onr conscience? Why do We
imagine so many things? Why arr
we morbid and miserable and con.
temPsible9 Why do we shut up ouI
houses and stay in the back rooms al
the summer? Why, in short, are We
humbugs. every man and woman among
US? The answer is sad, irresistible
and, unfortunately, true. 1t is all be
cause of they" II there were M
"they'' in the world we should-ah
should we be better; more original, 9th
er, in short, than we are?-N Y. Mai
and Express.