The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-02-02

imbecility and spiritual whitening. APP
parel insufficient to keep out the cold and
the rain, or SO fitted upon the person
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
luxurious indolence-are tie instruments
by which this unreal life pushes its dis
ciples into valetudinarianism and the
grave Along the walks of prosperous
life death goes a-nlowing = and such
harvests as are reapedl Materia Med1ca
has been exhausted to find curatives for
these physiological devastations. Drop
sizes. cancers, consumptions, gout, and
almost every infirinity 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 and Mount Auburn.
But, worse than that, this folly is an
intellectual depletion. This endless study
of proprieties and etiquette, patterns and
styles, is bedwarfng to tine intellect. I
| never knew woman or a man of sex-
| trenne fashion that knew much. How
belittling the study of the cut of a coat,
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 unravel mysteries, to
walk through the universe, to soar up
into the infinity of Gods attributes
lowering perpetually over new style of
cloak! / have known men reckless as to
their character and regardless of interests
momentous and eternal, exasperated by
the shape of a vest button. What is the
matter with that woman wrought up
into the agony OF despairl Oh, her muff
is out of fashion
Worse than all--this folly is not satis-
fed until it has extirpated every moral
sentiment and blasted the soul. A ward
robe is the rock upon which many soul
has been fivea. The excitement of a
luxurious life has been the vortex that
| has swallowed up more souls than the
Maelstron of Norway ever destroyed
ships. What room for elevating themes
in heart filed with the trivial and un-
real? Who can wonder that in this haste
for sun gilded baubles and winged thistle
down. men and women should tumble
into ruin2 The travellers to destruction
are not all clothed in rags. On that road
chariot jostlcs against chariot; and be-
hind steeds in harness golden plated and
glittering, they go down, coach and four,
herald and position, racketing on the hot
pavernents of he'll. Clear the tracks!
Bazaars hang out their colors over the
road; and trees of tropical fruitfulness
overbranch the way. No sound of woe
disturbs the air, but all Is light, and song,
and wine, and gorgeousness. Tho world
comes out to greet the dazzling pro-
cession with: ''EIurrah! hurrah!" But
suddenly there is halt and an outcry of
dismay, and an overthrow worse than
the Red sea tumbling upon the Egyptians
Shadow of gravestones upon finest silk!
Wormwood squeezed into impearled COB
lets! Death with one cold breath wither-
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 universe
assembling; amid the boom of the last
great thunder peal, and under the
cracking of a burning world-what will
become of the disciple of unholy fashion?
But watch the career of one thoroughly
i artificial. Through inheIitance, Or per-
haps his own skill having obtained enough
for purposes of display, he feels himself
thoroughly established. He sits aloof
from the common herd, and looks out of
his window upon the poor man and says:
'.Put that dirty wretch off my steps inn
mediatelyF' On Sabbath days be finds
the church, but mourns the fact that he
must worship with SO many of the inele-
CANT, and says: ''They are perfectly
awfulr' "That man that you put in
my pew had coat on his back that did
not cost @5." He struts through life
unsympathetic with trouble and saysl 81
cannot be bothered" Is delighted with
some doubtful story of Parisiah life, but
thinks that there are some very indecent
things in the Bible. Walks arm in arm
with the successful man Of the world, but
does not know his own brother. Loves
to be praised for his splendid house, and
when told that he looks younger than ten
years ago, says; "Well, reallyi do you
think so?''
But the brief strut of his life is about
over. Up stairs, he dies. No angel
wings lowering about him. No Gospe
promises kindling up the darkness; but
exquisite embroidery, elegant picture:
and bust of Shakespeare on the mantel
The pulses stop. The minister comes il
to read of the resurrection, that day
when the dead shall come up-both ht
, that died on the floor and he that ex
pired under princely upholstery. He il
carried out to burial. Only a few
mourners, but q great array Of carriages
3 Not one common man at the funeral NJ
: befriended orphan to weep tear on hi
{ grave No child of want pressing through
the ranks of the weeping, saying: "Ht
is the last friend have, and l must SCI
him"
, What now2 He was a great man
Shall not chariots of salvation come dow
! to the other side OF the Jordan and escor
] him up to the palacef Shall not tn
3 angels exclaim: Turn out! A prince i:
> coming" Will the bells chime? vii
, there be harpers with their harps ant
3 trumpeters with their trumpets?
No! No. No! There will be a shud
: der, as though calamity had happened
{ Standing on heavens battlement,
{ watchman will see something shoot pas
with fiery downfall and shrek; .t.Wan
5 iering star-for whom is reserved tn
8 blaclness Of darkness foreveri'
5 But sadder yet is the closing of a VIC
: mans life that has been worshipful O
5 worldliness, all the wealth of lifetime
K opportunity wasted. What a tragedy
s A woman ON her dying pillow, thinkin
. of what she might have done for Go
s and humanity, and yet having don
nothing! Compare her demise with tina
q of a Harriet Newell going down to peace
:. fully die in the Isle of France, reyiewin
is her lifetime sacrifices for the redemptio
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