New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-11

| 10 hard work Those few who know the language
sit out prominently with their feet crossed, and
laugh and smile with taDtazIng air OF delicious
amusement. Sometimes they give a Ii tie series OF
approving mods. which set all the bows In their
bonnets bobbing Again, they clasp their hands and
sink back stabbed with mrth al some witicisn, rare,
crisp. racy. and dead to you as King Rameses H.
Now and then they turn in their chairs In a gust
OF glcc. and nod and beck al one behind, who
sits staring vacaniy, with set jaw and CLASSY gaze
Many of the listeners decide beforehand that UNIFORM
stoldity IS less compromising, and certainly less
work, than this slavish mirh. They fasten their
eyes on some particular object and never move
Iau,hter real on forced. ripplcs AID bubbles round
them, but they arc grave Their card case. their
box Of bonbons their fans slide of their sken laps
70 the ground. but they never move. with their
eyes glued to the readers face, they arc following
her through labyrinths OF musical murnnrugs prett
" uunelllcble as the twltteilng OF birds at dawn.
Suddenly they catch the meaning Of a sentence.
Virtue is rewarded They catch another. The cx-
element grows almost nSupportahle for they catch
third. Their muscles tense their breath coming
hard. their eyes grown to the readers face they
sit cold and rigid The strain Is tremendous but
one false step, instant's break in their atcn-
ton. and all is lost.
The Descriptive Listener Is a common variety She
manages 10 get beside some who IS not altogether
pleasant 10 her. and with whom she wishes to settle
some old scores.
"Ah7 cries she, laughing consunedly. did yon
hear that p He is now supposed to be greatly
excited and "what is this villain doing here y
Her companion Is silently disdalnfll The reader
Continues with much vlvacity. Tho Descriptive
Listener sinks back. shakcn with Flce.
Admirable " she pants, joyouSy. "You are not
laughing looking at her companion who is turning
her head to the right and left with dazcd, amiably
helpless expression. 1t very clever You didn't
understand Pierre has Just said Clandne This Is
ado
The companion now Observes with faint show
Of annoyance.
eyes. ] heard that"
But the other Is enamored of her superior knowledge.
"You see the situation is extremely clever and
so involved Pierre. you know. thinks that Claudne
believes"
81 understand all that interrupts the unwilling
pupil with the clearness of uttcrancc which be
tokens wrath.
The reader goes on with o great deal OF Struggling
and occasional cpses. greeted by Joyous bursts of
laughter Presently silence falls on tho audience,
and faces grow grave.
"This is not funny now" whispers the Descriptive
Listener to her victim. ats serious. Andre is
describing how his mother IS terribly ILL., and"
The worm turns with loud rustic OF crushed SILK
md bestows a long. like stare upon the Descrp-
tive Listener who subsidies unanimously defiant
Tho reading is serious sadness. socmniy Is on all
faces But one poor lady, thinking she sees smile
dawning on the lips Of the initiated, bursts INTO
sudden mirth. loud and solitary. Every one starts
nervously and twisting round In their chairs starcs
at her with frownlng surprise. Crushed and scarlet
She drops her card case and spends some moments
searching for 1t under the chairs.
In the intermisson there is much talking. People
stroll about and compare notes Tho lady who
laughed so unfortunately dawdles from group to
group. remarklng casually:
"I'vc got such duh of humor. You know
that last Joke Pierre made-that awfully funny onoi
ell, 1t only Just broke upon In tho solemn part
and l couldn't help til burst right out Wasn't
L stupid of mel"
The Descriptive Listener lounges away with that
tranquil stare ranking In her heart. She meets
friend whom she arrests and TO whom she says:
"Wasnt It deliciousl was sitting beside MIS-. /
rompkins and the poor thing had rather duh time.
She would have enjoyed 1t much more II shed un- |
leIstOOd q little OF It's
And she drifts away at peace with all mankind