The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-15
xe.en On the wall was the WORK or a master

sketch on the wall was the WORK or master
painter. ut was an heirloom, and onoe
hung on the walls OF castle, and duke
gave It to their grandfather" When the
fact is that painting was made by man
"down east" and baked 80 as to make it
look old, and sold with others for ten dol
lars dozen. People who will lie about
nothing else will lie about picture. On
small income we must make the world be-
lieve that we are af1uent and our life be-
comes cheat, counterfeit and sham.
Few persons are really natural. When
say this do not mean to slur cultured man.
ners. It is right that we should have more
admiration for the sculptured marble than
for the unknown block Of the quarry. From
many circles in life insincerity has driven
out vivacity and enthusiasm. A frozen dig
nity instead Ioats about the room, and ice
berg grinds against iceberg. You must not
laugh outright; 1t is vulgar. You must
smile. You must not dash rapidly across
the room; you must glide. There is round
Of bows and grins and batteries and ohsl
and ahsl and simpering and nambypamby-
lsm-a world Of which is not worth one
good, round, honest peal Of laughter. From
such hollow round the tortured guest re-
tires at the close Of the evening and assures
bis host that he has enjoyed himself.
What round Of insincerity many people
Their life is a sham and their death an un-
speakable sadness. Alas for the poor butter
aies when the frost strikes theml
Compare the life and death Of such one
with that of some Christian aunt who was
once a blessing to your household. I do not
know that she was ever offered the hand in
marriage. She lived single, that untram-
meled she might be everybody's blessing.
Whenever the sick were to be visited, or the
poor to be provided with bread, she went
VI! Wtth blessing She could Id; pray, & or sing sing
asked her. As she got older there were days
when she was q little sharp, but for the most
part auntie was sunbeam-just the one Tor
Christmas eve. She knew better than any
one else how to fix things. Her every prayer,
as God heard it, was full Of everybody who
had trouble. The brightest things in all the
house dropped from her fingers. She had
peculiar notions, but the grandest notion
she ever had was to make you happy. She
dressed well-auntie always dressed well;
but her highest adornment was that OF q
meek and quiet spirit which, in the sight OF
God, is of great price. When she died you
all gathered lovingly about her, and as you
carried her out to rest the Sunday school
class almost covered the coffin with japoDi-
cas-. and the poor people stood at the end of
the alley, with their aprons to their eyes
sobbing bitterly; and the man Of the world
said, with Solomon, "Her price was above
rubies," and Jesus, as unto the maiden in
Judea commanded, 81 say unto thee, ariser'
But to many, through insincerity, this
life is masquerade ball. AS at such en-
tertainments gentlemen and ladies appear
in the dress Of kings or queens. mountain
bandits or clowns and at the close OF the
dance throw off their disguisss, 80 in this
dissipated life all uuclean passions move
in mask. Across the floor they trip mer-
rily. The lights sparkle along the wall or
drop from the ceiling-a conort OF trel
The feet bound. Gemmed bands stretched
out clasped gemmed hands. Dancing feet
respond to dancing feet. Cleaning brow
bends to cleaning brow. On with the
dance! Flash and rustic and laughter and
tmmeasurable merry making! But tho
langour Of death comes over the limbs and
blurs the sight
Lights loWerl Floor hollow with sepul-
chraI echo. Music saddens into wall. Lights
lowerl The maskers can hardly now be seen.
Flowers exchange their fragrance for sick
sning odor, such as comes from garlands
that have lain in vaults Of cemeteries Lights
lowerl Mists fill the room. Glasses rattle
IS though shaken by sullen thunder. Signs
seem caught among the curtains. Scarf falls
from the shoulder of beauty-a shroud!
Lights lowerl Over the slippery boards, in
dancs Of death, glide jealousies, disappoint'
ments lust, despair. Torn leaves and with
cred garlands only half hide the ulcered feet
The Stencil Of smoking lamp wlcks almost
quenched. Choking damps Chilliness. Feet
still. Hands folded. Eyes shut Voices
hushsd. Lights out!