The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-07-19

that come to the challenge nnd the
fight are only the occasional crop
pings out of disquietudes that are, un-
derneath, like the stars of heaven for
multitude, but lisse the demons of the pit
for hate. The misery that will tonight
in the cellar cuddle up in the straw l.
not SO utter as the princely disquietude
which stalks through splendid drawing
rooms, brooding over the sights and Of
fenses of luxurious life. The bitterness
of life seems not SO uniting when drunk
out of a pewter mug. as when it pours
from the chased lips of n golden chalice.
In the sharp crack of the voluptuary's
pistol, putting an end to his earthly
misery, hear the confirmation that Isl a
hollow, fastidious life there is no peace.
Again: Devotion to wrong fashion is
productive of physical disease. mental
imbecility and spiritual whitening. Ap-
parel insufficient to keep out the cold and
that the functions of life are re-
strained; late hours filled with excite
ment and feasting; free drafts of
wine that make one not beastly intoxi-
Gated, but only fashionably drunk; and
4 luxurious indolence-are the instruments
by which this unreal life pushes its dis
ciples into valetudinarianism and the
grave. Along the walks of prosperous
life death goes a-mowing - and such
harvests as are reaped! Materia Medica
has been exhausted to find curatives for
these physiological devastations. Drop
sizes, cancers, consumptions, gout. and
almost every infirmity in all the realm
of pathology have been the penalties
paid. To counteract the damage phar-
macy has gone forth with medicament,
panacea, elixir, embrocation, salve and
cataplasm.
Tonight with swollen feet upon cush-
ioned ottoman. and groaning with aches
innumerable, will be the votary of lux
urious living, not half SO happy as his
groom or coal HEAVIER. Wrong fashion
is the worlds undertaken, and drives
thousands of hearses to Greenwood and
Laurel Hill an6 Mount Auburn.
But. worse than that, this folly is an
intellectual depletion. This endless study
of proprieties and etiquette, patterns and
styles, is bedwarfing to the intellect.
never knew a woman or a man Of ex-
treme fashion that knew much. How
belittling the study of the cut of coat,
| or the tie Of cravat, or the wrinkle in a
| sleeve, or the color of ribbon! How
! they are worried if something gets un-
tied, or hangs awry, or is not nicely
adjusted! With mind capable of
measuring the height and depth of great
subjects: able to unrarel mysteries, to
walk through the universe. to soar up
into the intinity of Gods attributes
lowering perpetually over 4 new style of
! cloak! | have known men reckless as to
their character and regardless of interests
nomentous and eternal, e1asperated by
the shape Of a vest button. What is the
matter with that woman wrought ur
into the agony of despair Oh, her mutI
is out of fashion!
Worse than all-this folly is not salts
fed until it has extirpated every moral
sentiment and blasted the soul. \ ward
robe is the rock upon which many a sou
has been riven. The excitement of q
luxurious life has been the vortex that
has swallowed up more souls than tho
Maelstrom of Norway ever. destroyed
ships. What room for elevating themes
| in a heart filled with the trivial and un
real? Who can wonder that in this haste
for sun gilded baub.es and winged thistle
down, men and women should tumble
into ruin2 Tho travellers to- destruction
are not all clothed in rags. On that roat
chariot jostlcS against chariot; and be-
HAD steeds in harness golden plated and
glitlering, they go down, coach and four
herald and position, racketing on the ho
pavemcnts Of hell. Clear the tracks
Bazaars hang out their colors over the
road and trees of tropical fruitfulncs
overbranch the way. No sound of wot
disturb5 the air, but all is light. and song
and wine, and gorgeousness. The worlt
comes out to greet the dazzling pro
cession with: ''Hurrah! huuah!' Blu
suddenly there is 4 halt and an ou.cry o
dislnav, and an overthrow worse thai
the Red sea tumbling upon the Egyptians
Shadow of gravestones upon finest silk
Wormwood squeezed into impearled COB
lets, Death with one cold breath withcr
ing the leaves and freezing the fountains
In the wild tumult of the Last Day
the mountains falling, the heavens fly
ing. the thrones uprising. the univers
assembling: amid the boom of the las
great thunder peal, and under tin
cracking of 4 burning world-what Wi
become of the disciple Of unholy fashion
But watch the career of one thorough
artificial. Through Inheritance, or pei
haps his own skill having obtained cnous
for purposes OF display, he feels hiInse
thoroughly established. He sits aloo
from the common herd, and looks out {
his window upon the poor man and says
/ ! Put that dirty wretch off my steps iII
mediatelyr' On Sabbath .days he find
the church. but noulns the fact that /
must worship wit4. SO many of the inel'
| CANT, and says: They are perfect
awful" That man that you put
i nv pew had coat on his back that di
t not cost So He struts through Ii!
unsvmpathetic with trouble and says: :
canno; be bothered Is delighted wit
some doubtful story of Partisan life, b'
/ thinks that there are como very indecc,
things in the Bible. Walks arm in ar
: with the successful man of the world, b'
l docs not know his own brother. Low
s to be praised for his splendid house. ar
@ when told that he looks younger than Il
f years ago. says: We'll, really; do u
d think soi''
But the brief strut Of his life is abo
e over. Up stairs, he dies. No ang
II wings lowering about him. No GosI
# promises kindling up the darkness; b
+ exquisite embroidery. elegant pictur