Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-10-05

her coming The worst looking Dlrd on
earth is a peacock when it has lost its
feathers. Iwould not give one lock Of
my old mothers gray hair for 90, 600
such caricatures of humanity. And If
the life of q wording, if the lifo CT a
disciple given to the world, is sad, the
close Of such a life is simply a tragedy.
Fate of the sybaritcs.
Let me tell you that the designations
of social life are despoiling the useful
ness of vast multitude Of people.
What do those people care about the
fact that there are whole nations in sor-
row and suffering and agony when they
have for consideration the more impor-
tant question about the size Of a glove
or the tie Of a cravat? Which one Of
them ever bound up the wounds Of the
hospital? Which one Of them ever went
out to care for the poor? Which Of them
do YOU find in the haunts Of sin distrib-
uting tracts? They live on themselves,
and it is very poor pasture.
Sybaris was a great city, and it once
sent out 300 horsemen in battle. They
had a minstrel who had taught the
horses of the army a great trick, and
when the old minstrel played a certain
tune the horses would rear and with
their front feet seem to beat time to the
music. Well, the old minstrel was Of
Tended with his country, and he went
over to the enemy, and he said to the
enemy, You give me the mastership
of the army, and will destroy their
troops when those horsemen come from
Sybaris. "
So they gave tho old minstrel the
management, and he taught all the
other Ministries q certain tune Then
when the cavalry troop came up the old
minstrel and all the other minstrels
played a certain tune, and at the most
critical moment in the battle, when
the horsemen wanted to rush to the con-
flict, the horses reared and beat time to
the music with their fore feet, and i'll
disgrace and rout the enemy fled. All,
my friends, | have seen it again and
again-the minstrels Of pleasure, the
minstrels Of dissipation, the minstrels
of goddess association have defeated peo-
pie in tho hardest fight Of life! Frivol-
ity has lost the battle for 10, 600 folk
Oh, what 0cliJtling process to the HUI
man mind this everlasting question
about dress, this discussion Of fashion
able infnitesimals, this group, looking
askanco at the glass, wondering with
an infinity of carnestness how that last
geranium leaf does look, this shriyel-
ing of mans moral dignity until 1t Is
not observable to the naked eye, this
Spanish inquisition Of tight shoe, this
binding up Of an immortal soul in a
ruflle, this pitching eff of an immortal
nature over the rocks when God intend
ed it for great and everlasting uplifting!
With many life is masquerade ball,
and as at such entertainments gentle
men and ladies put on the garb OF
kings and queens or mountebanks or
clowns, and at the close put off the dis
guise, so a great many pass their whole
life in q mask, taking off the mask at
death. While the masquerade ball OF
life goes on they trip merrily over the
floor. gemmed hand is stretched to the
gemmod hand, and cleaning brow
bends to cleaning brow. On with the
dancel Flush and rustic and laughter
of Unreasonable merrymaking
I'll
But after awhile the languor Of death
comes Oh the LINKS and blurs tho eye
sight. Lights lower. Floor hollow with
sepulchral echo. Music saddened into q
wall Lights lower. Now the maskers
are only seen in the dim light. Now
the fragrance Of the flowers is like the
sickening odor that comes from gar
lands that have lain long in tho vaults
of cemeteries. Lights lower. Mists
gather in the room. Glasses shake as
though quaked by sullen thunder. Sigh
caught in the curtain. Scarf drops from
the shoulder of beauty - shroud!
Lights lower. Over the slippery boards
in dance Of death glide jealousies, en-
vies, revenges, lust, despair and death.
Stencil the lamp wicks almost extins
guished. Torn garlands will not half
cover the liberated feet. Choking
damps Chilliness. Feet still. Hands
closed. Voices hushod. Eyes shut
Lights out
Oh, how many Of you have hoated
far away from God through social dissi-
pations, and it is time you turned, for /
remember that there were two vessels
on the sea and in a storm. 1t was very,
very dark, and the two vessels were go
ing straight for each other, and the cap
tains knew it not. But after awhile the
man on the lookout saw the approach
ing ship, and he shouted, Hard Altar
boardw and from the other vessel the
cry went up, Hard a-larboard' and
they turned just enough to glance by
and passed in safety TO their harbors
Some Of you are in the storm Of temp
tation, and you are driving on and COM
ing toward fearful collisions unless you
change your course. Hard a-larboardl
Turn We, turn ye, for why will We
die, q house of Israel;