San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-07

spirit Jllll Is OI value, not JIle mere
letter Especially should you bear this
In mind i'll the society of such people as
Won will meet OH Wednesday evening.
The world is large place, and only in
the circle in which you have been brought
up Is excessive regard paid to insignificant
details Ssnsible people have other
things to think about"
Does Mr.. Spence belong TO Boston,
asked, anxious to find out all could
aOOut the celebrity
Brt tins remark was not more happy
thaa the last. Aunt Agnes pursed her
lips and said.
III you mean. was he born IN Beacon
street. no, he was not Dreadful as it
may seem to you, | know nothing of
either ME father or his mother But
you will learn when you are little wiser
that genius, in order to be recognized and
admired, is not obliged to produce pa
rents
You misunderstood me, Aunt Agnes
merely wished TO know if he were q
foreigner or not"
He has lived everywhere, i believe,
and is cosmopolitan, as all great men
are. He is one of the few characters
really worth knowing in our community
His pnilosophic and hygienic thoughts
surpass his poetry in worth, in the opinion
of the best judges.
And Miss Kingsley-does she write
at alp
Certainly Did she not tell you that
she is the compiler of the weekly column
of fashionable items in The Sunday Mer-
curyy'
Yes, said |, but that is scarcely
literature
Aunt Agnes did not answer for a mo-
ment "You have judged hastily, and
consequently have misjudged. If you
We're to ask me whether ! think Miss
Kingsleys present occupation is proper
dunate to her abilities, should answer
no. She would herself admit that it
was hackwork-though, mind you, even
hackwork can be redeemed by an artistic
spirit as she has so adequately explained
to you All young women have not in
dependent fortunes, and such as are
without means are Obliged to take what
ever they can find to do in the line of
their professions agree with your i'm
plication that society items do not con-
Stitute literature, but they are stepping
stones TO higher things. Which is the
more creditaOle, pray, to collect and
chronicle the social customs of the age
i'll which you live, foolish as they may
be, or TO be one of the giddy and friv-
olous creatures whose doings are thus
complied as IL warning to pOsterity or to
excite its jeers: The one is work, earnest
though humble, the other, sheer dis
sipation of the energies of life"
felt that this was aimed at me, but
as made no response Aunt Agnes con-
tinued:
DO not mistake my meaning now,
and say that | wish you to become a
collector Of fashionable information. On
the contrary, | should much regret to
see you anything of the kind BY the
very circumstance that Providence has
given you the means to pick and choose,
you are marked out for work of a less
superficial order But you must not
undervalue others who are less able to
consult their own preferences. Miss
Kingsley is young woman of decided
capabilities for original composition.
Mr. Spence has spoken to me Of her in
terms OF the highest praise. Because
she is Obliged for her support to cater to
the popular taste for social intelligence,
it by no means follows that she does not
employ her spare hours to better advan-
tage shall not violate any condolences
may have received in saying that Miss
Kingsley is capable of literary produc
ton of high order.
But, said |, after moments silence,
you cannot approve Of the custom Of
putting the private affairs of people into
print, Aunt Agnes?
1T is preferable at least to wasting the
best years Of ones life in fashionable
folly" she replied with some asperity.
AS saw it would be hopeless to pursue
the conversation on this head without
danger of further disagreement, rose to
take-my leave But when | stopped to
Kiss her, she tok me by the hand and
said with much seriousness. but with a
purpose to ne Kindly.
Il have much greater hopes, Virginia,
frankly confess, regarding the stability
of your character than when last con-
versed with you. You may depend on
whatever assistance lies in my power;
but let ME impress upon you that the
cultivation which your talents betit you
to attain cannot be reached without
strenuous exertions on your own part.
II shall do all can TO make the most
of my advantages, Aunt Agnes, you may
depend upon it; and thank you heartily
for your offer of help. | hope have
done with frivolity forever"