The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-21
Street Scenes.
m. Louise Robbins.

We're it possible, are we as people
ready to sacrifice the pleasures, the eX-
citements of city sights for remote,
intangible good? How fascinating are
street scenes to the country visitor, ana
they are scarcely less so to those &C
customed TO them from childhood.
How varied is city life at different
hours Of the day. In the early morn
ing when the rattle Of the milk carts
alone breaks the stiffness, what a sug-
cestion of power in repose. y city
sleeping, ali its grand possibilities dor
nlant. has we'll been compared to the
Lion couchant." At midday what
Babel of voices, what a hurrylng OF
many feet and succession Of kaleido-
scopic views.
TO one with an appreciation Of the
ludicrous there is often something to
provoke smile. Figures quaint rs
those portrayed by Dickens or Thack-
cray fit through the streets. Eccen-
tricites of gait and costume are noticed
and the quick speech and bright retort.
of the "gamin' amuse the listener.
Again there is the tragic element.
AS the ambulance drives slowly with
the injured, how shadow passes over
our spirits. From gay to grave is a
rapid transition. AS the funeral train
goes by the crowd is hushed in sympa-
thetic silence. Sad and suggestive as
these sights are, a sadder one is the
police wagon bearing a solitary priso-
ner, possibly a woman, whose disease
is soul-sickness, one who finds that
the ",roy OF the tcansgressor is hard" I"
Let US look again at the brighter
scenes. History does not tell who
started the custom of putting beautiful
objects in store windows, but we would
give him due thanks. Much is thus
presented that may be source of ed
ucation even to the poorest. All praise
to the florist, who, during winters icy
reign, delights the eye with choicest
blossoms. The pictures displayed must
promote a taste for the best in art. In
the beat of summer how we prize the
views of mountain or ocean. An his
torical painting attracts, and we re-
fresh our memories by consulting for
gotten volumes. Often an exquisite
bronze delights, and we learn to dis
tinguish the real from the imitation.
We are led to a study of mythology
and become familiar with the different
representations Of Venus and learn a
Hercules from an Apollo. The china
store windows are most interesting. \
complete knowledge Of the different
manufactures requires long, patient
study, but in these days of art culture,
not to know a few varieties like Royal
Worcester, Satsnma or Cloissoune
shows deplorable ignorance.
Even the textiles shown in dry goods
windows are worthy Of study. The
transformation of the silk of the cocoon
into these elegant fabrics shows mar
vellous skill. The laces made in foreign
cellars, but stimulate profitable inquiry.
The gems Of the jewelers. window show
miracles of beauty nature and art to-
gether may produce.
In simply walking through our bust.
ness streets one cannot help learning
something. Each window is full of
hints, stimulants to intellectual activ-
ity. By following out the hints Of
nature, inventors have perfected Won
derful machinery. The falling apple,
the steam from the tea-kettle were
only hints.
So a person who thinks-studies
upon objects so freely displayed-must
be greatly benefited. If only our young
friends would walk through the world
with the mental as we'll as the physi-
cal eye wide open, how rich their lives
would become The student of human
nature looks only at the faces Of those Re
meets. In the numberless variety he
detects every phase of moral and men
tai culture. Upon many features are
plainly written poverty, worry, inten-
perance. Again face appear so ben
eiicent, so peaceful as to leave lasting
sort of benedictiOn.
Many a text for sermon or subject
for 4 poem is presented unconsciously
Il careful observer. Acts of courtesy,
true poiteness or even herOism are by
no means rare. Sometimes, alas, our
ears are panied by profanity or vulgari-
ty, bat we would be like bees, taking
the honey but never the poison, into
our lives. 50 shall we give to others
in return only what is sweet and help
fu:.