The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-09
A Fall from the Clouds.

A Fall from the Clouds.
"Have you ever noticed how natural
1t comes for every man to look at things
from his own standpoint" said Gin
cinnati man in q chat at the Palmer
House the other evening.
mo, can't say that I ever noticed
it particularly" said one member of
the party; "but since you call attention
to it. believe it is probably the case"
"Thc matter was never brought home
to me forcibly but once" the Queen
City man resumed; "but since that time
1 have observed it frequently, and the
more attention give to the matter the
more l notice that it is invariably the
case. Without knowing it, every man
insensibly falls into the habit of meas
uring everything by the standard of
his everyday life. dare say Il tailor
never looks at another man without
mentally running over him with tape
line, and i'll all probability the dry goods
merchant is never without his yard
stick. An artist in Italy would look
upon the worlds masterpiece with a
decidedly different feeling from what
shoemaker would do The artist would
find poems of beauty where the dull
mechanic would see nothing more than
a clever job of stonc-cutting. upon
which he would estimate the labor at
so much per day. The halter would
be mentally fitting the most becoming
tile on the head of each statue, while
the shoemaker would be itching to COW
cr the feet with leather. The cigar
man would regard them as very attrac-
tive signs for his business, and the
lrcssmakcr would soon select one she
would like to have for dummy. At
church a photographers may look ever
so levout. and still be occupied in
studying the different faces and
poses. while a physician may be spec
ulating upon the ailments apparent to
him, and his neighbor, the undertaken,
may hear in every cough the ring of
business for him in time to come. You
catch the idea? No matter who you
are OF where you 90, the shop is uncon-
scously dragged along, and you look
at nothing through clear glass. All
your emotions are tinctured by past
experience. II is said that no two peo-
pie ever bcllei,l a rainbow with the same
feeling, or looked upon the ocean with
the same thrill. But to get back to tho
case wanted to speak Of The first
time | found myself in Music Hall. at
Cincinnati, was impressed differently
from what had ever been before. It
was at the frs. musical festival held in
the structure, and il had an effect uncn
me altogether unlocked for and differ
cnt from anythinp I had ever nassc,
through. The building was GRAND fn-
yond the meaning Of the word, the
audience mapniticent to thc same do.
gree, and The music not dcscribablo in
the symbols of speech. The structure
was the gift of II noble-hearted man.
and everything about II was in kccnin~
with the simplicity Of his character
plain. massive, and attractive. The
occasion and surroundings awoke with
in me a new feeling. an indetinable sort
of ecstacy never known till that mo-
mrnt. Ii seemed to mo that no one
could enter the buildino without bcinu
impressed in manner altogether dif,
fcrrnt from ANYTHING ever before OK.
Ne
ger friend of mine came 10 the civ to
Visit the Exposition. and I was anyions
to see what effect the building woulI
have upon him. So went along with
him. ii was in the evening, and the
place was rrsplrndcnt with gas lipht
and crowded with peoulc. took him
through all the winrs. iobl,ics. and 9TH
er parts of the Exposition first. and
kept Music Hall for the last Grand
climax. l got him up stairs and
led him out into the balcony. 40
that he might get it all at a broadsidc.
lie stood sncrchless, and razcd as only
Il farmer can when confronted with
something that cannot be estimated at
so much per bushc]. / watched him
closely, and ilattcrcd myself that | could
look into his soul | drank in every
shade of his changing expression. and
let nothing escanc me- His eyes
seemed growing moist, and it appeared
to me his frame was tremulous with
new Joy. persuaded myself that /
could see his thoughts come out and
stand in bold relief upon his brow. and
for the first time in NV life felt that I
enioyed the specchlcss converse of
soul. But was mistaken
..You don't sav?'