Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-12-14
Stuart StapClGT'S Lesson.

stuart SlapClGr'S LGSSUN.
Thirty years ago Mr.. Stuart
Starcher had been a notorious
young man about town; be affected
to be a notorious young man about
town still. Since he began to SOW
his Wild oats three generations OF
Youths had come, sOwn theirs, and
gone; but he continued gally
scattering crop after crop, and
imagining all the while that the
world regarded him still as the
same wild young fellow he was of
yore. When he rose in the morn
ing and looked in his glass he
could not but see that his face was
wrinkled and bis hair was thin
When he took his afternoon stroll
IN the park he felt only too painfully
that his step lacked lightness and
his figure dropped. These and
such like unpleasant erpOsts"
he contrived to conceal, as he
thought, If not from himself, at
least from the world. His toilet,
it is true, made an immense de-
mand upon the skill of his valet
aud the resources of art but when
it was completed he flattered him
self that ne was to all outward ap-
pearance as youthful as many men
thirty years his Junior.
Having thus IN exterior renewed
his youth, it was bis delight to
spend his afternoons and nights
with "the boys" There was some
thing pathetic in the efforts which
he made to do as these sturdy
young rOysterers did. He would
stroll with them in the streets,
gamble with them at the club,
shuttle off to the theatre "tO mash"
with them the ladies of the stage,
until he was ready to drop with
fatigue. All the time he imagined
that the lads took him for one of
themselves. lie forgot that there
we're few of them who had not
heard their fathers talk of cold
Starch tell of his elopement some
twenty years ago with poor wealthy
Miss Cash, wonder what had be-
come of the child of that marriage,
and laugh at the old fogy's affecta-
ton of youth.
There was Just one point upon
which Mr.. Stuart Starcher ac-
knowledged the affect of years, and
that was on the point of worldly
wisdom. lie not merely admitted,
but he bOasted of, the width of bis
experience and the prOfundity OF
his knowledge of men, women and
things. Every possible trouble or
difficulty a man about town could
get into he had been in. He had
been in love and in debt, hard hit
at cards and threatened with the
divorce court he had elOped with
an heiress, been in scrapes with
the ladies and had fought duel
Every conceivable adventure be
had, according to himself, come
through, and come through, as be
proudly declared, without as much
as a scratch. He was as vain OF
his astute ness as he was ashamed
of bis age.
On this great fund Of wisdom
and experience he was Away
ready to draw for the benefit of his
young friends when any Of then
got into trouble it was the only
fund he was ready to draw upon
He was at least as rich as he wal
wise, but be was as prudent will
his money as he was prodigal will
his advice. AS he used to say, he die
this on principle; he stuck to hi
money because If be did not some
BODY else would, but as to his al
vice he could offer it freely becaus
he knew nobody would take it.
In this observation be scarceI'
did himself justice, for his advic
was not only often taken but ofte
sought, and among those who mos
needed and sought it was one Q
his youngest and most intimat
friends, the Hon. Frank TerrlnG
ton.
The Hon. Frank was a true Tel
rington that is he was most {
bis lime in high spirits and lo'
company and he was happll
blessed with many friends, man
follies and many debts. He wa
never long out Of trouble and di