The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28

what not, made In this abominable style,
and shapely maid in a calico Mother
Hubbard, cinctured with cotton rope, will
be more pleasing to the eve and will APP
proach nearer TO artistic truthfulness. The
''Empire Gown" is coming in fashion, we
are told, and let us be thankful. Any
thing to remove from our sight the "Cutty
Lark basque.
Speaking about the "Cutty Lark" brings
to mind poor Bobby Burns and the sad
story OF his checkered life. Failing to
find congenaity in the dotlish dunder-
heads around him he had recourse to the
public-house where the stern democracy
OF Scotch whisky continued to make all
men equals. He paid dearly for these drink
ing bouts in headaches and heartaches, but
what matter? He has used the house as an
object lessen TO teach us humility and the
mouse to show us that at best we are all
merely "earth-born mortals." The sad
dest sight to Burns was the spectacle OF
man looking for work, asking some one to
''give him leave TO toll" "In the sweat
OF thy brow thou shalt eat thy bread" is
the curse of mankind, and many nova
days think that the saddest spectacle is
the man who finds work and has 10 labor.
Others, again, teach that labor Is noble
and holy, so, between the two schools, it
Is difficult to determine whether toll is
blessing or curse. There is one thing
about labor, one OF the emblems
OF toll that might DO done away
with, that is the tin dinner bucket. A
lunch wrapped up in paper or napkin is
neat and dainty and may contain any
thing basket may contain flowers or
something choice and elegant, but tin
bucket is not the accident OF day or the
temporary necessity of week, but con-
fessed, acquiesced in, hopeless and perpet-
ual poverty. To make il more humiliatng
some genius invented bucket with COM
partments in it TO fence of the food, and
arranged slide ON the side in which a
knife, fork and spoon are placed to pro-
claim from the housetops that the sweaty
yiands on the inside are 10 be devoured.
Unless OF the earth earthly and OF the
world worldly, unless every aspiration that
raises and ennobles mankind is blighted,
the mystic meanderings OF speculation
lead us to contemplate future existence.
A belief in the resurrection OF the body
and the life everlasting is the creed Of
many, and II this creed be correct, bow are
we TO appear in the next world? Shall the
infant be an infant, shall the
maiden be maiden, the youth a
youth, the matured man still mature,
the lettering granddam always feeble, or
shall each be at the zenith OF his earthly
vigor2 And shall we meet and know each
other2 Shall the spirit and body of Damo-
cleS, and Aristaphanes, the gruesome Cato.
tie courageous CoriOlanus, the naughty
Pericles, and the graceful Alcibiades be OF
our company And what Of those creatures
OF fiction, with whom we are familiar2
Will Dickens introduce us anew 10 Pick
wick and Traddles, and the rest OF the
host? Children OF the imagination are
as dear, and more universally beloved than
children descended from the loins OF man,
and shall we leave thcm-bid them an
eternal farewell at tile portals Of the grave?
They have no soulsl How do YOU know?
Has not the Vicar OF Wakefield as much
soul rs the ignorant brute who expiates
his crime on the gallows? Has not the
antiquarian more soul than barbarian in
the junges Of Africa? What is this soul2
A vital spark lent By the Almighty TO
human beings sometime between the
periods OF their conception and birth. Is
II not rs reasonable TO suppose that this
same spark may be increased TO a glowing
coal and lent 10 creatures OF the
Imagination In order to borrow this
spark OF Immortality from heaven is Il
necessary TO provide for it neshy taber-
nicle-u muddy yesture OF mortality for its
hibiliment The great characters in
history are no more 10 us than the great
characters in fiction. To Us they have no
more individuality, nor are they more Of n
reality. We love aud hate them Just the
same, and II there is future punishment
for Judas and Guy Fawks. why should
not Quilp and Sykes be punished?