The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-10-23
A HIT NOT AMIss.


To the Editor Of TIE Agis: 8faH
RI picked up the following in manuscript on the
public road and finding it timely article forward
it to you knowing you and your readers cannot put
feel interested in 1t and beg you to insert t at your
or evolution than you do at this moment, but find
ing in it nothing harmful while something helpful,
vet to which, in my humble individual opinion, 1t IS
lar in inferior in style and sfatus.l IN
I'm my wanderings to and fro on this little green
sPp e we 70 ca nas Suf Se night IN farm house
little distance from the town OF Bel Air, Har-
fords pretty county seat ny Was 6Tt
and amply furnished, too. dare say, had the
limit my necessities been that of most well order
ed beings of sound mind in search OF mere nights
lodging. But l. unfortunately, am awkwardly
constituted. Creations balance wheel must have
When was Struck on At all events never want
to do, and rarely bring myself to accomplish any
work in common with the rest OF the world even
This particular evenng-ths night of all nights in
the year, I could not sleep though I had put in q
which had been OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES through
with some how-on an uncommonly rough little
narrow-gauge between Baltimore city and TIT
blazing hot board platform al the station in Bel
Air, My thoughts, as may be surnlsed, were not
stfikingly entertaining companions; Inc dimension
OF my unpretentious grip sack forbade the trans
portation of even modest library. and the news
paper had purchased from an impecunious look
therouehy perused. advertisements and all.
MYSTERY Of Turkish Bath" the one novel 1
had procured on the train, had read twice over
while still at the tender mercy Of the rckety road,
for of homeopathic persuasion, fondly hoped IL
would allay the welnlg6 9nSsaraoie s n. nausea tne
cars had produced. had tried in vain to raise
the window by my seat, and after the abrupt re-
one hand and breaking both thumb nails appeal
ed to the porter. who bringing poker and stick
assisfance attacked the obstinate sash and labor
ed conscientiously with the refractory spring for
some minutes until tor sheer humanltyS sake,
ter of no consequence to me and that was quite
as grateful for their heroic efforts though they
eisht t window then. later in the evening,
and looking out into the vast, yoiceless. many,
mild 4 frame Of mind toward the whole episode as
my words at the time had represented. The cool,
sweet air was blowing full in my face and the stars
the fire flies were busy. But somehow Twas not in
a dreaming mood Just then; was not in the
to speaE-but felt quite an imperious appetite for
some fresh and palatable preparation. so light
ed my little side-handled lamp. and proceeded to
found an old fashioned Methodist hymn book on
the little three cornered shelf copy of the laws Of
Maryland anda Patent Office Report of some remote
period. But am hard to pleased confess and some
how even these were not to my taste; so in honest
desperation renewed my search on a lower plane
under the bright wooden bucket placed at the
washstands side. Like one drowning, at straw,
resolving my care should be trebled, that no un-
wary drop might betray my pilfering. This pro-
weekly published in that same small town whose
acquaintance had made that afternoon. devour-
ed all ss ep my lae
haps. than any other-an article called Hits and
Mfsses.n II began in acontinued- last-m0nfh
not not. exactly spasmodic thing in this particular
issue. The young man may not be wholly ayerse to
some friendly suggestion-for felt sure at once
the writer was young mana quite young man
rather visionary In many respects. with high ideals
but somewhat lacking IN the Qualities that belong
the way simpler for his brothers on the road. /
was walking once with kindly old man whose
also absorbing that it was some time before I
realized that half unconsciously as we went along
intruding brfer away or pushed aside fallen log
but looking back / could see the way was
broader clearer and Wlthal more Inviting ii than
mistic tendencies, see few indications that my
young friend-hiding behind a:tault-inder's mask,
(Which. by the way, he would never dare TO do did
he not IN his innermost heart feel convinced the
features chosen were as unlike his own as any cos
sepa % evs y y eesg 1sS ssSn
ion, but he will rather be one to find some soft,
messy bank BY the wayside ID the SHADE, ana tnere
end gazing out in critical contempt at the vulgar
illiterate crowd whose blood stains the stones he
masses who know not poetry to hang tawdry
rhymefringes on the mighty NANTES OF the great
4
but the catalogue of our mistakes then looking
down my long list ought surely to be able to
speak an authoritative word to my youthful ac-
quantance of the mightier weapon. 1t IS Just be-
cause i have been on those airy heights that !
know how far will be the fall. or rather how hard
the Infringing up" the Emerald Islander puts it.
OF the possible Dissertation of a long cherished
beauty spot on old Susquehannas side know
nothing though probably ndfed were fhe anna Mar
his summarizing that feel myself compelled to
spar with this would be sparrer. he classes MN.
they two, at least. on account, no doubt. of
the over delicate texture of their mental tym-
M he Hst Now granting that Mr.
Ruskin's great-Droad human sympathy came IN
the one side as he tolls shoulder to shoulder with
the .'workaday world" on the other-which touch
would thrill his pulses with an answering throb OF
soul? God, my friend admits, made beauty as
freely for one as for another and God casts no
pearls before swine; but he comes practically to
the conclusion for himself and Mr.. Ruskin that it
must be a waste of good works-this lavishment
on the .vulgar crowd"-ther delight if any will
be only vulgar to the end. But then n a rhapsody
Of self-sacrfce unparalleled he resolves it would
be better that his sensitive nerves be irritated to
all eternity than one of the common herd be cur
tailed as to its need Of meadow grass. All! my
dear, young friend-dear by reason OF your very
impotency of ignorance-"when man in the bush
with God may meet, where are you In your high
conceit9" tell you it won't do for us TO sit in the
cool places Of the earth and gaze with captous eye
at the tollers and struggers OF the hour be they
never so grimy and gruesOme to look at. 1t won't
do for with umbrella-shaded heads to lose touch
with those whose unprotected brOws are barred in
lies torridites to the penetrati0ns OF ptiless sun
in braZen heavens Greatness Is no absolute thing.
but relative. man VINO makes good music on
e-stringed fiddle is great musician. All
human hearts deep down tLr0b harmony Even
unconsciously we are all striving onward and God
ward. Every clod feels stir OF might and climbs
to soul in grass and flowers, and just so soon as we
step aside and draw our garments about us from
pollution. and feel ourselves apart from the pusing
throng, just there we sever our vital connection
with the deepest life of the world. Very refined
thoughts. or superintendent of any kind. may be
very fine thing but like very delicate pulsebeats
il Is au unerring indication of waning life. What
God has cleansed, be it even Of cloven hoof may
as well pass clean down here among US dustmade
mortals. have no doubt, my dear young man,
you would extend fgurative helping hand to
creature in distress. Perhaps-who knOws-it
might lift him a hairs breath towards your own
world beyond and above his sordid cares. But this
isnot sympathy according to Webster. or ones own
common sense Have you no sordid cares? Do
you take thought what you shall eat or what you
shall drink? All! my son, you have much to learn.
God grant 1t may be an easy object-lesson. But
the pillow point, let me whisper, in your hand may
touch where your pen point never can and you
never will be able to reach mems souls until you
yourself are in soul-harmony with Gods world
Iill can blow with the wind and beat with the
motherless lamb. and sweat with the stone breaker
on the dusty road" -.r..