San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-27
The Skeleton in the Closet.

uO Dhcl0IUu Ill Ull0 OlUooI'
Editor Light.
Law, bless my soul. cries Miss
Jemima Snapper, "what funny
thing the man has selected to. write
about" "the skeleton in the, closet"
I am all over in shiver just at
thinking about It,"
~ am sick of those people who
write for newspapers" answered her
friend, Miss Samantha Jaggers," the
stuff they write has upset my nerves
and made me SO timid that l am
afraid of my own shadow"
Your apprehensions are groundless,
my dear ladies. / give you my word
of honor that there will be nothing
blood.curdling, thrilling and
Embarrassing in what L am going to
say, sensational and bizarre writing
WAS never my forte, and miserable
failure awaits me whenever / attempt
that style.
A couple of centuries ago, there
lived nobleman in Province, France,
who was both admired aud envied.
His wealth was princely, his landed
estate was extensive, his family was
as ancient as any in France, three of
his ancestors had participated in
the wars of the crusades and cover
ed themselves with military glory
In that age of hand to hand combat,
and another one of his ancestors
had gone with st. Louis on his disas-
trous invasion of Egypt. The Due de
Charities had in no respect degener-
ated from his noble and martial an
cestors, in point of lion-like courage
and chivalrous qualities, though he
excelled them in polish and amenity
Of manners, intellectual culture, and
in humanity.
His castle was beautifully located
on lofty cliff, the foot of which was
washed by small and rapid river,
and was rendered impregnable on the
side facing the river, by the precipi-
tous cliff of hard stone. On the other
three sides, the castle had been
strongly fortified, according to the
customs of that age, by thick wall of
hard stone, at the distance of fifty
feet from the castle. and also by a
deep and wide moat on the outside of
the wall, faced withstone. The out
or part OF the wall had been built five
feet higher than the inside portion,
go rs to serve as rampart for the
garrison in case of an attack.
The prospect from the castle was
remarkably pleasing, as the cliff on
which 1t was perched was much high
or than the surrounding country,
which consisted of hills and valleys.
The scenery was picturesque and
pastoral.
The castle itself was of Gothic
architecture massive and spacious
with dining hall in which two hum
dred men could be comfortably seated
and quite q number of smaller rooms
for sleeping apartments, in che upper
stories.
The Due de Charities was entertain
ing a considerable number of his
friends of both sexes, with a magnifi
cent feast. The winewas pure and ex-
cellent, with delightful aroma, and
the supply was abundant. In that
age, Tetotalism and Prohibition had
not been born into the world, so
every one partook of wine without
squeamishness. Indeed, hardly any
beverage except wine was used in
Provence, and drunkenness was al
most unknown.
The conversation, after flowing in
q number of channels, settled upon
the subject of happiness-what con-
stituted happiness -what was needed
to render one happy, and which sta
ton in life was most propitious to
happiness. Conversation, III that
age, was marked by good sense and
xuoo nauar oIonnu-IO1n
altogether discourteous, disputations
and bullying, as is too often the case
I'm our own age which is
in such state OF Whlrl,
rush, push and locomotion, that men
have not the time to be good listeners
in conversation. Besides, the news
papers contain so great a fund of mis-
cellaneous information, anecdotes and
odds and ends Of science, that men
who read them daily, are prepared to
cut quite a respectable figure in con-
versation.
Well, the general sentiment of his
guests was, that the Due de Charities,
OF all their acquaintances, not only
possessed all the requisites to happi-
ness in the greatest abundance, but
really seemed to enjoy the largest
measure of happiness, as his good
humor and affability were proverbial.
Appearances, my dear friends,
are often deceptive" said the Due
De Chartres, In q melan chOly tone.
"a face, wreathed in smiles and
beamlng with good humor, often con-
ceals an aching heart from the world,
every heart has hid away, in some
corner of it, some unpublished grief,
trouble, or disappointment, which