The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-15
ssTlley."

The mysterious beings who exercise
unlimited control over our destiniGs
have no name They are simply '.theyln
but they are legion. Occasionally
they become ''them." Dolly Winthrop,
it may be remembered accustomed to
the recognition of some mysterious mex
plicable guidance in her affairs, habitu-
ally referred to s'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.
care they using ice plates for fruitp"
'Are they getting married in cream
color or whitep" "Are they using tap
estry curtainsP'' care they buying
Spanish leather chairs?,' 'sAre they at
tending Grace Church or TrinityP"
''Are they wearing engagement rings
on the second or first finger?' care
they having their hair curled or plaited?"
"Are they using canes in the street,"
''Do they wear roundabout collars or
turn-down?" "Do they wear tight
trousers?" '.Do they prefer shoulder
straps to decent sleeves?'' ssWhat are
the colors they are wearing this sea-
sonpn
1t is bad enough when these diabon-
cal invisibles determine the clothing,
coloring and general behavior of this
community, but it is worse still when
''they" begin to .'say." Sometimes ct
is emphatic ''they do say or mystic
rious, Imagine what they say?' or IN
definite, 1--WE wonder what they will
say" or positive, 'sOh, you know they
say so and so. :"
Who are they? What are theyp
Where are they? What satisfaction
it would be to grind them to powder
We might we'll introduce new form of
litany "From they deliver u.s." They
are ridiculous, merciless, foolish, but
omnipotent. There is no possibility of
getting away from their influence. Now
and again some heroic soul, mighty in
the struggle for freedom, declares: 81
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, nay,
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 beyond!
What shall we do about it? Can we
do anything? Can we, mighty in num-
Der and unity, overcome and browbeat
this ubiquitous ''they?n We trow not.
Rather letus give up such an attempt Let
us pander to they let us bow down
and worship they let us do what they
would have US or stand in terror of our
reputation, dearer to us than life itself,
if they disapprove of us.
Why do we spend more than we can
affordp Because ''they' expect it of US.
Why do we 60 to immoral plays? Why
do we paint and POWDER Why do we
cringe and fawnp Why do we marry
for money and rue it ever after? Why
do we go to racesP 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 do
we speculate, and make haste to grow
rich by shortcuts and unworthy lodges?
Why do we put d. D. after our names
without earning it? Why do we vote
against onr consciencep Why do we
imagine so many things? Why are
we morbid and miserable and con-
temptibleP Why do we shut up our
houses and stay in the back rooms all
the summer? Why, in short, are we
humbugs, every man and woman among
us? The answer is sad, irresistible,
and, unfortunately, true. It is all be-
cause of ..they.n If there were no
ssthey" in the world we should-ah!
should we be better; more original, 9TH
er, in short, tnan we are?-N z Mail
and Express.