The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-03-12

do you know that this city has q
college older, Weather, finer in It's
educational qualities. and above all,
handsomer in its presidency, than any
other in the landf Probably you don't.
Harvard and Yale are SO much bigger
than the towns containing them that
they have become distinctive, while
Columbia is only one amoung numer-
GUS New York institutions, and is rela-
lively belittled by its metropolitan
environments. But we are rather
proud of President Barnard. His
attainments are so vast, his beard 80
long and white, his benignity 80 placid
and his profanity so enormous, that he
holds his own among men much better
than his college does among colleges.
wherever an assemblage holds him, he
is the fgurehead of that assemblage.
This is true especially OF fashionable
paraor gatherings. There are circles in
which culture is the religion and he the
prophet. Not to say that we presume
TO compare, much less compete, with
Boston in any such way; but we possess
severalvery good limitations OF Bostonian
heights of transcendentalism. You
would believe it had you seen President
Barnard, the other evening, as the blind
sage in groupe of pupils metaphoric-
ally learning at his feet. And then
you would laugh at the recollection Of
the climax Of the scene. Barnard's
blindness was temporary, his eyes being
bandaged to keep the light away from
their Inflammation. The pupils were a
chance company of girls, some of whom
belonged to the class which is graci0usly
permitted to enjoy few of the privi-
leges of Columbia. The place was the
house of wealthy family in Fifth ave-
nue.. The oracle was discoursing on
the thoroughness with which genuine
good breeding imbued a human being
with refinement.
with my eyes blinded as they are"
he remarked, Il could probably distin-
gaish by shake of the hand between a
person of refinement and q person Of
coarseness."
LET US test you, Mr.. Barnard" said
the mischievous young hostess.
agreed, said he.
Here let me interpolate some infor-
nation as to the fashion in hands.
There was time, not long ago, when
the elegant belle slept with CREASED
hands in old gloves, and by day kept
them carefully hidden from the sun, like
mushrooms growing white in the cellar,
so that they might look and feel as though
they had never come in contact with any
thing not rougher than satin. 1t is
wholly different now. Athletic sports
are in high approval. The daughter OF
wealth grasps oars, tennis bats, bride
reins and tricycle.. handle-bars, all with
out gloves; and she is proud of the cal
lo0s palms which ensue, and the red-ros-
iness of the knuckles that used to be
the hue of the lily. Her liking for out
door exercise has not yet taken her into
the baseball field, where her fingers
might get permanently disfigured by
breakage, and SO the hands are not be.
coming distorted, though they will never
agxin be quite SO small or soft as they
were.
Well, Barnard evidently was mo-
posted in this material matter, for ht
fell precipitately into the trap set for him
II will call in my maid" said thG
rogue, land you shall shake hands witt
| AOR" OAU 40 A1A4OCA eS0CS AAA NesAA ASsA
say boo without violating some gram
NAUTICAL rule. She's without a Bit o
culture. You shah also shake hand
with young lady who, as you all vii
admit when told her name, is nothing
short of cultured perfection. But mind
sir, you mustn't allow yourself to judg
by the softness or hardness of tn
palms"
mo-" he promised. II will identif
the lady aud the maid solely by the sub
tie characteristics of their clasp
| Nevertheless, he declared that the ne
gress, who was brought in to give hin
her small, smooth, plant hand
was the lady, and that the lady VIII
laid q leathery hand in his, was the sery
ant. If girls go on using their hand
for pleasure, the novels with the lily
fingered and velvet-palmed heroine
win have to be revised.-M. Y. Coz. a
h0eu Journal.