Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-02

the german, for he has told me that In
order to develop his theory intelligently
he has been obliged to study extremes.
The happy mean cannot OF course be es-
timated so iutelligently by one who is
without personal experience OF the over
much or undermuch he reprobates.
Those are his own phrases Tor
expressing excess or undue nmi-
tation, and to me they seem ex-
auisite specimens of nomenclature. But
as was saying, Mr.. Spence has In the
course of bis investigations sampled, II
I NAV so speak, almost every sensation
or series of sensations to which human
nature is susceptible. For instance, he
once spent the night ina tomb so as to
experience what he has so exquisltely
/ STYLED In a poem on the subject the
extremity of doleiul comprehension
You were abiding to the lines only
yesterday, Miss Harlan
"They are Miltonic in their grim
power" said Aunt Agnes.
Then again, he lived upon dog ana
horse during the time OF the Commune
at Paris. He says it was worth the
experience Of an ordinary lifetime as
Illustrating the crucial test OF discom-
fort. So in like manner he has expert
enced the extremes Of luxury and
Measure. have been given to under
stand that he even felt 1t his duty to
intoxicate himself upon one occasion
I'm order to be able to demoiish
more conclusively the arguments OF
either form OF intemperance, for ne con-
siders total abstinence as almost, II not
quite. on a level with over indulgence.
Ones instinct OF course shrinks al nrst
from the idea OF a deliberate clouolng
of the senses being ever pardonable, but
the more one examines the matter the
more innocent does It appear, and l
freely admit that I have come to regard
an offense against morals committed In
the interest OF science as not only ex-
cusable. but in some cases positive
cety."
But" said Aunt Agnes, taking up
the thread of her previous remark Tor
nv further edihcation, "however Mr..
Spence may have conducted himself in
t1e past for the sake Of discipline, his
habits to-day are essentially sober and
Serious"
| "On, GEAR, yes pANi"
Kingsley; she is intensely In earnest:
and discountenances all mere Vanltles OF
life. And yet, withal, it is his aim 10
pursue the happy mean. He believes In
RATIONAL amusements, and is very SYM
pathetic in congenial society. If you
have no pleasanter engagement for next
Wednesday evening, Miss Virginia,
sIall be charmed to have you take tea
with me at my rooms in the Studio
building. expect Mr.. Spence and one
OF two other friends to be present"
"With great pleasure" answered;
ard I felt quite elated by the invitation.
NV ambition to form Few associations
was about to be realized apparently.
II have hopes that Mr. Spence will
consent to illustrate his theory OF the
economy of speech on that evening"
continued Miss Kingsley. "As yet the
science is in embryo, and naturally but
very small number OF people are suf-
fcently familiar with the practical
de,ails Of the theory to make 1t advis-
abe to adopt it in general conversation.
But with sympathetic friends he may
feel disposed to make the experiment.
|
glria," said Aunt Agnes with empha-
sis
81 should try in vain To be worthy OF
suCh an opportunity; but am very
mnh obliged to you, Miss Kingsley" l
answered humbly.
You will soon learn she said, ris-
inCto 90. 81 am so glad to have had
thepleasure Of meeting you at last. l
have alluded to you in my column on
oneor two occasions, but This is the first
tinn have had the qualification Of see
ing you In person. Perhaps you can
tell me-" she continued holding my
hand. whether there is any truth in
the reported engagement Of our Miss
Leonard to Mr.. Clarence Butterheld.
Ant II you happen to know who are to
be the bridesmaids at the wedding OF
Mis-; Newton, OF Philadelphia, to our
Mr.. Lester, 1 shall consider it very
friendly of you to tell me.
This made me feel very uncomfort-
! able for could not decide on the spur
of the moment whether it would be
NOR. charitable to my friends to tell the
truth, or to remain silent and let their
affairs be garbled.
ST want to put in something" she
urged. noticing my hesitation. Il shall
either contradict or confirm the report
Of the engagement in our next issue. OF
course, artistically 1t makes little differ
| ence to me which; but it is much more
| satisfactory to the immediate friends to
have an item correct-juSt as the friends
of a person who sits for a portrait prefer
to have a likeness speaking, whereas to
the FAINTER it is much mole important
whether the tout ensemble is a work OF
art. To obtain a portrait one can al
| WAYS have recourse to the photographer;
and so to insure mere accuracy In So
| cial biting, it is easy to pay for it as an
advertisement. But artists stand upon
a different footing. Am l clear? And
trust that you agree with me. 1t will
do lust as we'll on Wednesday; and IL you
should hear any other items Of interest
| in NV line. please note them You have
no idea of the competition have to en-
counter. Some artists so so far as to
invent their material, but 1t is not con-
sidered strictly professional. Well, /
must run along. Don't forget, Wednes-
| day at eight" and Miss Kingsley whisk-
ed out of the room, leaving me in a
| dazed condition.
The collection OF social gossip was APP
parently her regular business, which she
not only was ready to acknowledge, but
! gloried in-juSt as a merchant might
| take pride in his bargains, or lawyer
in his arguments. There was a certain
SAVIOR Of self-reliance and proprietorship
in her use of the word ''our," by which
II was evident to me, though was sadly
puzzled at first, that she distinguished
BoStonians from those who lived else
| WHARF. Rnt. Mortified as l was by the