San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-01
SINGLE SATURDAYS.
Written for the LIGHT

Written for the LIGHT.
The autumn days have brought the
summer ebb tide to a stand still, and the
vigorous touch of the coming winter
rouses all.
1t has been many weeks since the vary
ing round of my daily work has left me
time to notice the books sent to me. A
most remarkable collection has heapeC
itself upon my table.
True to the principle that scum rises tC
the top. the first volumes ! see are Zola':
MANA" and Social Lepers,'' by Winona
Gilman.
For the latter, in the hands of a self.
respecting woman, the only criticism
possible is a muscular ~one-namely, to
tear it in a Thousand pieces, and burn il
in the kitchen stove!
Beneath these a brown book displays the
soothing title "Aristocracy." The sooth-
ing effect stops with the title, for the
nobility of England are diSpla yed in a
manner to satisfy the widest socialist.
The lurid aspect of earlS, dukes and
princes is not a new one, but we have
been accustomed to regarding their vices
through the medium of rose colored
SpectacleS. So far they have posed in
literature with a sort of false halo about
their partricean browS, and they are
supposed TO have ''sinned their sins"
with ever accompanint of gentlemanly
behavior.
In "Aristocracy'' their manners, are
as a~trocious as their morals, and their
use of slang remarkable. The Prince of
Wales is popularity referred to as "tum-
49,, - o-l ,n 40 ,,flIIr rftynn 20 ,,nlan-
stand that he ia the hoist of the lot.
A countess is shown as bribing a lord in
the most barefaced possible. The
young American, who figures as the hero,
is a perfect Chesterfield in comparison
with his transatlantic cousins.
| lift the cover of another book, and,
behold, a portrait! 1t is a peculiar face,
adorned with the widest whiskers, sur
mounted by the most extraordinary hair.
OF Ibsen, IbSen! If ever a man wrote as
he looked, you do!
Every body has heard his name, but not
many know much about him. / did not
know much about him myself until two
weeks ago, although / contrived to look
wise when he was referred to.
Ye individuals! who are well up in this
particular fad" skip the following lines
designed as a ''multum in parvO" for
those who have not time to wade through
The Norwegian dramatist on their own
account.
His greatest drama is called
a DOLLS House." and its plot
is a forcible protest against raising
women with no ideas of business. The
heroine's name is Nora Helmer. She is a
sweet, merry, gentle creature who has
been taught no more of life than a kitten.
She wishes TO procure money to take
her husband on a journey which the doc
farc oScr, no haR iS tho nnlu mao no of COW
ing his life. She has seen her father OBJ
tain money by signing his name, so in Mt
ter ignorance and innocence she FORCES
the paternal signature to a prOmiSsOTy
note. The money is given her, the father
dies without being informed, and the
husband remains unenlightened until the
last act.
When he does discover it he turns
fiercely upon the poor child, calls her a
vicious unprincipled woman and much
more to the same effect. She gazeS upon
him bewildered when she learns it was
illegal for she had thought that
he would have taken her
guilt upOn himself She believed that he
would inform the world, that if wrong
had'been committed, he vas alone TespOn-
sible. While he is making this exhibition
of his brutal qualities, the forged note is
brought to Nora, her enemy selecting the
eleventh hour.
When the fear of disgrace is removed
from the husband, he changes at once to
the indulgent master once more, but the
child has become a woman under the
revelation of his nature.
Nora tells him that a man who could
have spoken as he has done, is no husband
of hers, and that she does not love him.
She sinDed in ignorance and solely
through her devotion for him.
She OOpS 9yaV that very NIGHT la1 WING
him and his little ones in a deSolate
home.
81 am q human being" she cries, seven
more than a wife or a mother. I've
said | was not fit to educate the children
l had borne and you were right must
learn what life is before l can teach
Others"
as to the morality of her action, each
soul must Judge for itself, the subject is
too profound for general criticism. In
Nora's heart ideas of this little poem must
have been present.
The man is alive, but my love for him
Is cold as a corpse in is shroud,
And Will not go on with my lying smiles
will utter my grief aloud.
$50 made me a grave for my poor lost
love,
And ! cast me down by it's brink.
The ashes of sorrow were on my head,
The waters of Marah my drink.
l wept as we weep where no comfort is,
1t was useless to sob and strive,
Bnt 1 wished that the man himself was
dead,
And my love for the man alive.
REBA GREGORY PRELAT.
REAL ESTATE.