The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-12
TIE FIRST DAY OF MINT
"a Gas Celebrated with Proper Ceremony
After Due Consideration.

cham on tho first day that mint came in this
sason. Virginia Is the Colonel's mother
sarth. and the soft. lisping speech OF tho po-
tomac Valley rlngs to him. He has tho air OF
tbe true soldier-not OF the make believe. His
Seure s sturdy and erect. his face ruddy. his
ACES A. blue rs tempered steel his hair and
nnoustache white as snow. He Is not. however.
either in years or at heart. n middle-aged man.
There is perpetual youth in his smile. in
his voice. In his stride. in the hopeful
cayety Of his spirits You notice him
Tho moment you SEQ him on Broadway
and you say to yourself unconscously.
"That ia. clearly. man OF distinction"
The Doctor is not 30 tall and moro obese. Ho
looks like q sailor-an impression confirmed
BY his walk. He. too. has ruddy face. blue
eyes, and q perpetual smile. The Colonel and
the Doctor arc great friends. They were born
IN distant places but their trimming and their
tastes are very much alike and they arc to he
seen almost daily in each others company.
On tho FIRST day Of Mint they met. Tho Colonel
looked loss ruddy and less vivacious than
usual. Tho Doctor noticed it.
"You appear to be under tho weather What
oils your"
The Colonel. usually frank. hesitated.
"Iiancy that am run down."
"That is evident. What have been your
habits lately p
That was a searching question Tho Colonel
hesitated again.
Think am run down." he said. because
lhave not had drink IN thrce months"
The Doctor looked grave. Such confession
Is always serious That the Colonel should.
perhaps. by compulsion have had to recede
from his native almost instructive. practices.
was matter grave enough to alarm SO
thoughtful friend.
why have you drank nothing?"
The Colonel felt obliged. now. to tell tho
whole truth.
Because friend who cannot drink without
getting drunk asked me to join him in abso-
Lutte abstinence for three months"
The Doctor was reassured. Unwholesome
ss the new habit evidently was. it was due to q
noble sentiment and not to necessit y for
Alternative measures
when is your period Of three months up?"
To-day"
"Then as your medical adviser and one who
iskeenly and sensbly aware Of the exactions
Of your constitution order you to take a
drink Mt once so that you may restore that
rhythm OF your circulation which you have
needessly. II sympathetically disturbed"
And. in pursuit Of the prescription. they en-
tered q place in which tho first day OF Mint
bad asserted ITSELF
The delicate. indescribable aroma Of tho
herb foated upon the air. Pungent and yet
soothing. it lulled and excited tho magma
ton with the promise Of summer partly full
hlled. The rough green leaves. dotted with
shining spicules that were hardly visible to
the eye. oiled huge bowl. In tho dim light
Of the room. heavy with mahogany and
stained woods. the contents Of the bowl
had an enchanting verdure that almost
seemed to illuminate. The glitter OF the
glasses, close by. heightened the charm.
The sight and the odor were equally delicious.
The Colonel and the Doctor were silenced by
their sensations. They heard the ripple OF
pelluctd stream. the plssh Of trout, the whirr Of
dragon flies. They felt their feet sinkin e
into the soft damp carpet OF cool river edge.
Trees suddenly flung q welcome shade over
them. Most distinctly Of all they smelt the
punssnt perfume which Of all summer odors
ID the sweetest-the dying breath OF mint
naily crushed by tho careless foot OF the
arowsy dreaming wanderer. The same
nought came to life. as suddenly as the
dragon files they fanoied. in the minds OF
both But the Colonel repealed the thought
They are dangerous" he said. very dan
ssrous. !. a. Virginian. accustomed to them.
fear them. They are the only natives OF the
South that are treacherous. and their treason
hincalculable. Be betrayed into fondness for
tAem. and you pay fearful penalty for your
nth and trustfulness. Avoid them. Above
al avoid them on day like this 70
The Doctor looked wistfully at the soft green
pyramid. His nostrils dilated as tho delicious
aroma. lowering about the bowl. allured him
TO indisoretion.
One only" he said. with resolute nod. az
frmlng his self-control. "one only-just to
celebrate the first day Of Mint. and then We
can avert our faces like wise. strong men,"
TWAS draught OF the essence OF summer
that first. The minute thimbleful OF syrup
Ike the nectar at the heart OF q flower. the
tny cubes and diamonds OF crystal Ice that
glazed the green leaves with their transparent
eongelation. not even the tawpy spirit Of the
Heinsensibly tinting the whole with high
tempered stain. could debauch the innocence
Of such draught-
This Is 80 fresh from nature herself" said
ne Doctor as he put down the glass. in which
nothing but the sweetened leaves and the
melting Ice crystals remained. The Colonel
vas silent and thoughtful.
am glad" he said at last. that We used
% little whiskeym
twas not to bo denied that they both felt
grateful to themselves for finding such supe-
iior pleasure In the forceful yot exquisite sim
plcity OF nature.
am ashamed. after this" said the Colonel.
'aat ever drank anything less rudimenta nv.
loss Characteristic OF the great natural lahor a.
"5 70 which We all have recourse Here
sltsr human Installations and human es sences
VIII seem horribly coarse and shocking. Our
sensations. dear friend. at this moment are
Sule'y As innocent as the ecstacies Of the
AoneY Dec and the humming bird"
quite agree the Doctor said. equally en-
at once"
.,. W course you will have some whskey In
'.uts' the Colonel suggested
sm sorry to have to say" the Doctor re
hWould not be wholesome without"
astonishing the cloud Of 81 fin fancios
shoerate when. after powdering mint with
.se crystals for your healths sake. you diiu,a |
.he chill and aromatic syrup with more ~.
SSust spirit, The fragrant rcsen,.ul leaves.
tHuft by being so rudely treated. give IN lie D.
saQusand dainty ghosts. You hrcon.. 10 |
mMched by tho sweetly dying mint. iiv tEo !
m uhl- Also. your sympathetic soul l. tllinI
WIN teeming images that flock upon nacT |
o.her In delicious confusion. Snu M" 'r
~ ipll OF the entertainments OF the ar .n,.rv
you nave crushed to give you ploAsuro nm