The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-07

The Pathos of Laughter. |
There are a few worn-out traditions in
this world of ours which 1T Is about time
the world discarded. One Of them is that
u merry careless manner can only belong
to a shallow mind. aud a demure one al
ways covers depth OF thought and feel
ing.
There never was a greater mistake. A
quiet deneanor may be quiet because no
Thing RACES underneath TO disturb its
smooth serenity. Aud an unconcerned
bearing is often a CLOAK to CONCEAL real
passion and earnestness. Sometimes
'iout Of the abundance of the heart the
mouth Speaketh"-not
There are p~sople-perhaps not many,
but there are some-to whom 1t is actually
painful to reveal their inward enthus-
iasmS. This may be owing to disposition
or to education, perhaps to both. And to
such the assumption of an Indifferent or
a lively manner may offer the best protec-
ton to their real self. And in their
dread at having this Real self discovered
they will often turn the disguise into u
caricature, eXaggerating The laughter,
and making the foolish speeches more
reckless. doing violence in every way to
the emotions they are striving to cover.
There are such natures. Sometimes
they go through life without u%nGasking,
Sometimes, shut in." they find their
only growth oward the light which
comes from above. Sometimes they re-
veal themselves to one or two souls, and
are content with that much of sympathy
and appreciation. To the world they
show ever the same smiling front, and
perhaps go down to he grave misunder-
stood by their nearest friends
And 1t sometimes comes to men or
women who possess natures like this--is
such a nature a blessing or a curseP-it
sometimes happens that while their hearts
are torn with anguish and their souls are
passing through fire. that then their
laughter becomes the lightest and their
words tine wittiest. No one peI ceives the
tears under such laughter. Yet, perhaps,
they are coutented. And none can say
sucn natures are impossible. Some peo-
pie have them.-HGrper's Bazaar.
The Degeneration of English Society.
If we take up a society paper which
chronicles the fashionable doings of the
week. the list of the smartest and most
magnificent entertainments are not those
given by the haute noblesse of England,
but by a host Of people, many cf whose
names are foreign, aud who thirty years
ago would not have been heard of outside
their provincial home; and to their houses
flock princes and princesSes. aud the ac-
kn%owledged leaders of what was once.
and that not long ago. the most exclusive
society in Europe. Shades of the former
leaders of society and patronesses of
Almacks, do you not turn in your
graves at the sight of your grand
children aud their children associatlng
on terms of intimacy and equality with u
crowd whose sole recommendation is that
it panderS and ministers to the most de-
moraliziug influence of an age already
bad enough. When all that is needed to
insurance an entrance into the highest So
ciety in England is unlimited wealth,
where morality is unnecessary, and
where it is patroGized by the highest in
the lands it to be wondered at that the
more complete, and will be more disas-
trous in its effects than any one likes To
admit2 10 those who feel seriously nd
deplore the effect that the recognition of
the new elements which now compose
society in England must have. the posi-
ton becomes one of great difficulty.
There is a great difference between an
affection of being shocked and q real
manly protesf at much that is going on
around us. But neither is of any avail
to stop u condition OF things which. bad
as it is, is condoned and accepted by those
whose position aud weight should make
them raise up their voice in protest. This
is an age of charity, and where there is
no open scandal. no breaking of the new
and most important addition to the moral
law, 'thou shalt not be found out" it is
much more convenient to shut you eyes,,
and not incur the displeasure of the great
oneS of the world by crying in the wilder
ness.-LGdU Jehne in North american
Repielu.