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


Of my presence, proceeded to make US
acquainted
The backs of all the company except
Mr.. Spence had been turned on me, for
Mr.. Barr was fulfilling his promise of
persuading his friend to introduce his
system of speech as the order of the
evening. The ecstatic expression of Miss
Kingsley's face, as well as the few words
had heard him utter, were sufficient to
show that he had been successful; but
winking her eyes more rapidly than ever
she whispered in my ear with an imita-
ton, as | thought, of her masters style:
1T is to be"
Almost Immediately Mr.. Spence. whose
bow | had thought rather formal and
like that of the rest of the world, came
mp to me and said:
Welcome, Miss Harlan, to our circle.
| know your aunt-a massive woman in
tellectually, and my benefactor AS
think our hostess has already intimated
to you, it is the wish of some of the
company that | should give practical
illustration of certain views regarding
the essence of speech peculiar to me, of
which it may be you have heard from
your kinswOman or others, and which
are corollary of the general truth or
virtue known to the outsil world as
moderation. have, howe, ne della
cacy in infiicting so great a" vubus-
for it must seem such to the uninitiated
upon one who. like you, is of the beau
monde and lsed to its smooth ways. |
speak knowingly. for too in my day be-
longei to the beau monde, and am ia
miliar with the easy, however volatile
flow of speech incident thereto"
"Do not mind me, pray" said |. In
deed, have read your essays as well as
your poems, Mr. Spence, and am very
anxious to understand your system prac.
tically."
BE it So" he replied. Il did not
wish to infict myself unduly. Art
should be sensitive. Do you not agree
with me, Miss Harlan"
How exquisitel" heard Miss Kings
ley whisper to Mr. Fleisch, with whom
she was standing few feet distant gaz-
ing at the master.
1t was Mr.. Paul Barr who answered
the question for me:
mo, Miss Harlan, art should be ag
gressive; art should be ardent do not
agree with Mr.. Spence. In fact, we never
agree upon any subject. But we are
friends, lifelong bosom friends. Shake,
Charles, shake; we have not given the
grip and pressure of amity tonight"
He spoke in a deep, sonorous bass, and
extended to his friend hirsute hand.
1T is true we belong to different
schools, Mr.. Barr and l, Miss Harlan"
said Mr.. Spence. He believes in the
supremacy of the untrammeled, as his
poems and pictures show; |, on the con-
trary, give my voice to equipoise. But,
as he has we'll said, we are devoted
friends.
"You shall judge between u.s." con-
timed Paul Barr, addressing me. Which
is better, the free undulation of self, or
eternal tenSionT
"A fine antithesis," murmured Miss
Kingsley.
"Mein Gott! but it is not true, that
free undulauon Of self 1t deceives, it
deludes: it is a-what word is it | am
scel;iur' -a-eh Il have it-boomerang
a boomerang that plaques the invent
or" sd | Mr. Fieiach.
"Eefut,d. we'll refutcd!" said Mr.
Spence 'Flcisah has nit the mark The
overlnurh i,i2dceda boomerang Thanl:s,
Bernard for the epiGr%m." he added.
turning to the little GHrilan
Everybody clapplI Their haG:la except
myself AL Mr.. Barr preferred to re-
stroking HIS bead tierce!y, with his eyes
fixed on the ceiling.
At this moment the door opened and a
maid servant announced tea.
Mr. Spence looked at Miss Kingsley
interrogatively. From this moment,
please" said she.
He shrugged his shoulders and sighed,
and as we walked into tea together Miss
Kingsley whispered that he was about to
practice his theory.
"Of course, Virginia, dear, every one
will understand that you are a novice,
and you will be at liberty to talk in your
natural manner. The rest of US are ex-
pected to assist Mr.. Spence as far as pos
sible. | am all in a flutter | know !
shall break down"
The room in which we took tea was a
veritable snuggery. The servant found
it difficult to get round the table, and
there was a strong smell of the frying
pan owing to the vicinity of the tiny
kitchen But these inconvenience, if
they were so to be called, merely added
to my zest and enjoyment. Here, in
deed, was agreeable and talented society.