The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-11-26

they were enjoying prosperity they nao
been appealed to in vain. ANY can't
about equality in spite Of the loss OF
money was promptly resented By
those who had been in the attitude Of
solicitors. This feast was no good place
at which to air fine talk not supported
1 by fne character. The restrictions which
obtain in society less honest of speech,
though more polished, were laid aside,
and each one spoke his mind. All told
their worldly circumstances quite plain-
ly.
! One said that be lived with his wife,
three children and mother-in-law in two
rooms in an unwholesome tenement
house. and earned s. week in slop
shop selling rotten clothing 70 green
horns
Another said
| started in life with the notion Of
being a great author. am over 40 now,
and glad to get IS week il book store.
have covered reams Of paper, and made
about $1,000 altogether in little sums,
but no one knows my name. havecar-
ried novel and an epic from one pub
fishing house TO another for ten years,
and never could get any editor even 10
read them. am trying to sIve a little
money nov to get the poem published
after my death, with q little autobiogra-
I ply which may teach the world what it
has lost, and make people sorry that they
Jet such man die miserable death af-
ter 50 disappointing life"
Then some people have forced them
selves on the public By the manner Of
their DEATH said wild, melancholy
looking man by the authors side, sand
think it would be worth while 10 try
such a scene to make my Romeo and Ju-
let SELL
You talk Of death like child, said
/ croaking voice across the table. Here
am l, an old woman, once Minnie St An
gel, the famous actress bat none the less
a starving, broken down drudge now.
Never despair while you are young it is
the old who know what trouble is. To
have been some one. and then fall TO be-
ing nobody, that is the hardest thing of
all, much harder than to be unknown all
your ffep
Well, think it is harder for those
who never had brief hour of success at
all,7 said thin woman q l was the
daughter of a theatre hack, and was on
the stage from child Bat as grew
up plain and not clever, Was used in al
the common parts, and never knew what
It was to have an individuality. / have
never had home, and since my father
died have never even had friend. Now
am wardrobe woman in low theatre,
and gIad-yes, thankful-to have the
place, too
1t is hard TO work for no pay" said
rough voice opposite. was soldier
of Napoleon's as lad, fought in Algeria
and in Russia and because took part
in some plot-they call it revolutionary
lost my little pension, aud starved in
consequence. ran away, and once here
could find nothing to do. and am try
/ ing to beg money enough to buy hand
organ and camp stool"
Near him sat prim old body in
shiny black gown She seemed rather
shocked at the mention Of the organ and
stool, and remarked that as he was man
ne could surely find some work to do.
She went on to say
Although ] am only a woman, l set
to work at once as soon as onr fortune
was gone. got teachers place in a
school, and ever since have taught and
supported myself But It is very hard for
lady tendeIly brought up, and not
taught very thoroughly-as people were
not in my day-to mix with common
people and 0e knocked about in the
world. My father was rich and gentle
nan, and We have good blood in our
veins for many generations back, long
before our family ever crossed the ocean.
N-t Aa+AS y A1bHA IL elc nAoeotf " tAt
country, and there never was one bear
ing it who disgraced it."
A good pedigree is a fine thing if it
be genuine said crippled man near
the old lady. But if had ii and could
exchange it fyra straight back and sound
limbs, would gladly give it up Yet 1
believe am happier than most of you
here set out to get one thing and got
it, though it brought little else with il.
was poor mans son and had no fami-
j. 70 boast OF, and the one thing want
ed was learning As was cripple and
good for nothing to work. got books
from kind neighbors and taught myself
sitting By the kitchen FIRE in winter and
on the door step in summer. Sometimes
got to school, when l had clothes sod
enough to wear, and at last, through the
compassion Of neighbors, TO college. But
grew more infirm As reached manhood
and, indeed, b for this | should lave
10 right to be here among you. / have
earned my livelihood teaching other
young men and 50 ] jog on--I and NV
books and though my meals often con
sist Of bread and milk, am not unhap-
py. said would give noble blood in
exchange for good health and strong and
sound limbs but would not give my
books for health or good blood, nor
even health alone for long pedi-
gree"
The host smiled at Us and said There
Is the man who is really monarch of all
he surveys"
Itwas sad lening to turn from the Grip
pie 70 the others. Many Of them were
equally gifted intellectually, yet they
had never attained his contentment with
his lot
A man in rough jacket, with-a care
less air, which was contradicted by his
face, said
Well, fancy have had a wider ex
perience than any of you, If change Of
employment gives experience. There are
few things have not tried, bu; never
succeeded in any. | have been an er-
rand boy, plow boy,a peddler, q miner,
an engineer and an expressman. have
written dismal trash 70 sell to viiely
cheap and mean papers l have taught
= L