The Russellville Democrat., 1888-02-09
ana naturalnes. # behavior, and not \

lmDectiitY ana spultual WbneFtnS. Ap- parel insufficient to keep out the col d and the rain, or so fitted upon the person that the functions of life are restrained; late hours filled with excitement and feasting; free draughts of wine that make one not beastly intoxicated, but only fashion ably drunk, and luxurious indoience are the instruments by which this unreal life pushes it's disciples into vale- tudinarianism and the grave. Along the walks of prosperous life death goes a.mowing--and such harvests as are reap. ed Materia Medica has been exhausted to find cmatiyes for those physiological devastations Dropses, cancers, con sumptons, gout and almost every in. firmty in all the realm of pathology have been the penalties paid. To coun teract the damage, Pharmacy has gone forth with medicament, panacea, elixir, embro- cation. salve and cataplasm.
 Tonight with swollen feet upon oush- toned ottoman, and grooming with aches innumerable. will be the votary of luxuri- ous living, not half so happy as his groom or coal heaver. Wrong fashion is tie worlds undertaken, and drives thousands of hearses to Greenwood, and Laurel Hill, and Mount Auburn.
 
 tele ctual depletion. This endless study of proprieties and etiquette, patterns and styles, is bedwarfing to the intellect. I never knew a woman or man of extreme fashion that knew much. How belittling the study of the cut of Q coat, or tho tie of a cravat, or the wrinkle in sleeve, or the color of ribbon How they are worried if something gets nntied or hangs awry, or is not nicely adiustedi With mind capable of measuring the height and depth of great subjects; able to unravel mys- teries, to walk through the universe, to soar up in the inhnity of Gods attributes s--hoyering perpetually over new style of cloak 1 have known men reckless as to their character and regardless of interests mo- menrous and eternal, exasperated by the shape of vest button. What is the mat ter with that woman wrought up in to the agony of despair. Oh, her huff Is out of fashion
 Worse than all. this folly is not sats fled until it has extirpated every moral sentiment and blasted the soul. A ward. robe is the rock upon which many soul has been riven. The excitement of a luxurious life has been the vortex that has swallowed up more souls than the mael- storm of Norway ever destroyed ships. What room for elerating themes in heart filled with the trivial and unrealf
 Who can wonder that in this haste for sun gilded baubles and winged thistle down, men and women should tumble into ruins The travellers to destruction are not all clothed in rags. On that road chariot jostles against chariot, and be. hind steeds in harness, golden plated and glIttering, they go down, coach and four, herald and postilion, racketing on the hot pavements of hell. Clear the track Bazaars hang out their colors over the road, and trees of tropical fruitfulness overbranch the way. No sound of woe dsturbs the air, but all is light, and song, and wine, and gorgeousness. The world comes out to greet the dazzling procession with; "Hurrahl hurrahw 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 impsarled gob. letsI Death with one cold breath wither- ing the leaves and freezing the fount. aims.
 In the wild tumult of the last day-the mountains falling, the Heavens flying, the thrones uprising, the universe assem. bling; amid the boom of the last great thunder peal, and under the cracking of burning world-what will become of the disciple of unholy fashion?
 But watch the career of one thoroughly artificial. Through inheritance, or per haps his own skill having obtained enough for purposes of display, he feels himself thoroughly established. He sits alooi from the common herd, and looks out of his window upon the poor man and says: "Put that dirty wretch off my steps inn mediatelyl" On Sabbath days he finds the church, but mourns the fact that he must worship with so many of the inelegant and says: "They are perfectly awful?" That man that you put in my pew had coat on his back that did not cost five dol. lars"
 He struts through fife unsympathetie with trouble and says; ''I can not be bothered" Is delighted with some doubt. full story of Parisian life, but thinks that there are some very indecent things in the Bible. Walks arm and 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 age says: "Well, really, do you think so9"
 But the brief strut of his life is about over. Upstairs, he dies. No angel wing, lowering about him. No Gospel promises kindling up the darkness: but exquisite embroidery, elegant pictures and bust of Shakespeare on the mantle. The pulses stop. The minister comes in to read the Resurre ction, that day when the dead shall come up--both he that died on the floor and he that expired under princeiy upholstery. He iss carried out to burisl. Only few mourners, but great array of carriages. Not one common man al the funeral. No befrended orphan to weep a tear on his grave. No child of want pressing through the ranks of the weeping. saying: ''He is the last fir iend l have and l must see him.'
 What now2 He was great man. Shall not chariots of salvation come down to- the other side of the Jordan and escort him up to the palace? Shall not the angels exclaim: "Turn out! A prince is comngW Will the bells chime? Win there be hampers with their harps and trumpeters with their trumpets?
 Nol mol mol There will be shudder, as though a calamity had happened. Standing on Heavens battlements, a Wlii Scc hOnletniitR SuOOt past, with frey downfall and shriek: "Wan- dering star-for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness te evern
 But sadder yet is the closing of wom- ans life that has been worshlpful of world Illness, all the wealth of a life-time's opportunity wasted. What tragedy. A woman on her dying pillow, thinking of what she might have done for God and humanity, and yet having done nothing. Compare her demise with that of liar. riet Newell, going down to peacefully die in the Isle of France reviewing her life- time sacrifices for the redemption of India; or the last hours of Elizabeth Hervey, having exchanged her bright New En- gland home for life at Bombay amid stolid heathenism. that he might illumine it, saying, in her last moments: "If this is the dark valley, it has not dark spot in it; all is light, lightl" or the exit of Mrs. Lennox, falling under sudden dis ease at Smyrna, breath ng out her soul with the lasf pynrds. tfnh hour ba ug