The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-11-26

Ilbtc LOT WHICH lneN nave no VutuUNHllNlls
Aud very soon, If the man be a NOR
Giant, he is going around asking his crcdl-
tors to compromise for ten cents on the dol
lar. Or, II q clergyman. he is making trade
against the iugrntitudc Of churches. Or If
Hn attorney. by uuskillcd management he
loses case In which widows and orphans
ere robbed Of their portion. Or, II phySi-
clan, he, by malpractice, gives his patient
fapid transit from this world TO the next,
as the clumsy surgeon Of Charles ii, King
Of Navarro. having sewed up the feeble
limbs Of the king In sheet soaked of in
lammablc material, and having no knife to
cut the thread, took a candle to burn Oft
The thread and the bandapes took fire and
consumed the king. Our incompetent
friend would have made n splendid horse
doctor. hut he wanted TO be professor Of
anatomy In university. He could have
sold enough confectionery to have sup
ported his family, but he wanted to have a
sugar refinery like the Havcmeyers. lie
could have mended shoes, but he wanted TO
mend the constitution of the United States
Toward the end Of life these people are ont
Of patients, out Of money, out OF friends,
out Of everything. They go to the poor
house or keep out of it by running IN debt
10 all the grocery and dry goods stores that
will trust them. People begin TO wonder
when the curtain will drop on the scene.
After a while, leaving nothing but their
compliments to pay their doctor, under.
taker, and Gabriel Grubb, the grave digger,
they disappear. Exeunt Kissed of the
stngei
Others fail in the drama Of life through
demonstrated selishness. They make all
the rivers empty into the sea, all the roads
Of Cmolumcnt end at their door, and they
gather all the plumes Of honor for their
brow. They help no one, encourage no
one, rescue no one. GLOW big pile OF
money can ! getYr "IIow much OF the
world can | absorbg" are the chief qestlons.
They feel about the common people rs the
Turks felt toward the Asapi or common
soldiers, considering them of no use except
to fill up the bitches with their dead bodies
while the other troops walked over them to
take the fort. After while this prince Of
worldly success is sick. The only interest
society has In his illness is the effect that
his possible decease may have on the money
markets After while he dies Great news
paper capitals announce how he started with
nothing and ended with everything. Al
though, for sake of appearance, some peo-
pie put handkerchief to the eye there is not
one genuine tear shed between Central Park
and the Battery or between Brooklyn
Heights and Brooklyn Hill. The heirs sit
up all night while he lies in state, discuss
ing what the old fellow has probably done
with his money. 1t takes all the livery
stables within two miles to furnish funeral
cquipage, and all the mourning stores are
kept busy in selling weeds of grief. The
stonccutters send in proposals for monu-
ment. The minister at the obsequies reads
Of the Resurrection, which makes the
hearers fear that If the INSCRIPTIONS ilnan-
cier does come up in the general rising he
Will try to get corner on tombstones and
graveyard fences. All good men are glad
that the moral nuisance has been removed
Tie Wall street spectators are glad be-
cause there is more room for themselves
The heirs are glad because they get
possession OF the long delayed inheritance
Dropping every feather of all his plumcs
every certificate Of all his stock, every
bond Of all his investments, every dollar Of
all his fortune he departs, and all the roll
ing Of Dead March in Saul, and all the pa
geantry Of his interment, and all the cX-
quisiteneSs of sarcophagus, and all the eX-
travagance Of epitaphology cannot hide the
fact that my text has come again to tre-
mendous fulfllment: "Mcn shall clap
their hands at him and shall Mss him out Of
the place"
You see the clapping comes before the
hiss. The world cheers before 1t damns.
So, It is said, the deadly asp tickles before
II stings. Going up is heg IIurrah stand
back and let his galloping horses dash
| by, whirwind of plated harness and
| tinkliug headgear and arched neck. Drink
| deep of his Madeira and cognac. Boast OF
! how well you know him. All hats off as
| he passes. Bask for days and years In the
sunlight Of his prosperity. Going down is
| hep Pretend to be nearsighted so that you
cannot see him as he walks past. When
men ask you If YOU know him. halt and
hesitate as though you were trying to cal
up a dim memory, and say, swell, y-e-c-s,
yes, believe ! once did know him, hui
| have not seen him for Il long while" Gross
a different ferry from the one where you
used to meet him, lest he ask for financial
help. When you started life he spoke a
| good word for you at the bank. Talk
down his credit now that his fortunes are
collapsing. lie put his name on two Of youI
notes; tell him that you have changed yOuT
mind about such things and that you never
! indorse. After awhile his matters come to
dead halt and an assignment or suspcn-
sion or sherill's sale takes place. You say
"ile ought to have stopped sooner. Just
as expected. He made TOO big splast
| In the world. Glad the balloon has burst, y
| Ila INA Applause he went up, siblant de
rision when he came down. "Mcn shal
clap their hands at him and hiss him out o
his place. So, high up amid the crags the
eagle llutters dust into the eyes Of the roe
buck, and then with eyes blinded It goes
tumbling over the precipice, the great
| nntlers crashing on the rocks.
Now compare some of these goings ON
of life with the departure Of men ans
women, who, in the drama of life, took the
part that God assigned them, and ther
went away honored of men and applaudct
Of the Lord Almighty.
1t is about fifty years ago that in a com
paratvely small apartment of the city
newly-married pair set up home. Tb,
first guest that was invited in that residence
was the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Biblt
given the bride on the day Of her espousa
was the guide OF that household. DAYS o
sunshine were followed by days OF shadow
Did you ever know home that for flft,
years had no vicissitude9 The younl
woman who left her fathers house for he
young husbands home started out with
parental beuediction and good advice sh
will never forget. Her mother said to he
the day before the marriage: Snow, IN!
child, you are going away from us. U
course as long as your father and l live yol
will feel that you can come To us Mt an
time. But your home Will be elsewhere
From long experience find 1t is best t,
serve God. 1t is very bright with you now
my child, and you may think you can 90
along without religion, but the days vii
come when you will want God, and my ad
vice is establish a family altar, and, II neet
be, conduct the worship yourself" Tn
counsel was taken, and that young wifi
consecrated every room in the house T.
God.
Years passed on and there were in tina
home hilarties, but they were good an,
healthful and sorrows, but they were com
fored. Marriages as bright as orange bios
SONS could make them, and burlals In whic
all hearts were riyeu. They have a famil
lot In the cemetery, but all the place is Il
Illuminated with stories of resurrection uu
reunion. The children of the Household
that lived have grown up, and they are a
Christians, the father and mother leading th
way and the children followed. What car
the mother took Of wardrobe and cducatio
and character and manners! How hard sh
sometimes worked When the head Of tn
household was unfortunate In business sh
sewed until her fingers We're numb an
bleeding at the tips. And what close ca
| cnlnIlnn of nnnnnmics nnl MhnL inrnnull