The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-25
AND
SKETCHED.

What have to be thankful for
Imagine how many people all over tne
world are beginning to ask themselves
this question as Thanksgiving Day APP
proaches. Amid the noisy hustle OF DUST
ness. or the giddy whirl OF pleasure -
Is we'll TO pause little ard think OF
the blessings which have crowned the
year. Every body has something to be
grateful for. The man without JOB may
complain. Point him 10 some or ms lel-
low-creatures up i'm the Capitol Square
attired In striped suits. They nave JOBS.
The old maid may secretly complain that
she has no husband. Suppose she hau
a bibulous poker-player. who couldn
insert the KEY in the night-latch every
morning at 81 one would THINK the
fellow with no soles on his shoes m
dead winter had reason TO grumble< Can
his attention to that poor boy WIN no
feet TO put into his shoes. HOW about
the man who hasn't the funds TO pur-
chase enough 10 eat? Is he TO De plued
more than the millionaire dyspePtlc' VINO
sits down TO "A lavish menu Of twelve
courses, and can I taste mOuthful?
so. after all there are few of us Dut VINO
ought 10 lift up our hearts in thanks
giving next Thursday. 4.
Coming down nearer home 1 think the
poor newspaper man has, perhaps less
TO be thankful for than anybody else
He slaves his life out to give the pub
lie something to read. and seldom re-
ceves anything but the harsh criticisms
of people who couldn't write a sentence
of descent English If their lives depend
ed upon II, and complimentary obituary
notice when he passes away. And yet
the newspaper man has some things 10
be thankful for. I've been i'm the Dusl~
ness three years, and I'm etill living;
as you see by these few scattered
thoughts I'm thankful that I've held
out so long. Then I'm especially thank
full for two faithful friends. pair OF
long bladed scissors, and paste-pot'
have often wondered how ! should man
age to scramble along without them IN
this piratical age, when originality 70
scarce as the virtues OF Tammany OF Tie
piety of a typical ward politician. they
are the two best friends l have III the
world. except my yarn slippers ana
!!owh.atan. pipe. I'm {hanEfu' Tor !He".
But there are other things for which
| feel particularly grateful There IS
the Office boy. for example. He is alb
solutely indispensable to my feelings !
have often mediated between him ana
an rate superior who threatened 10 pit,h
him out of the window for failing !"
get "A proof OF list of pall-beaTerS from
an esteemed contemporary once when /
was threatened with discharge for writ
ing: We wish the bride many happy
returns OF me DAY, eNpeTl,h ceu St ~.
relief in unloading my feelings on me
office boy Some one remarked that
wasn't qualified for an effective Sunday
school teacher. He may have been rlsht.
Ever since that day I've been truly
thankful for the Office boy. May he
live long and prosper"
one institution existing in this office
Will always be a source of gratitude 10
my feIlOw-reporters as well as myself.
1t is a bureau Of biographical Information
in the shape of two or three hundred
sketches of well-known lawyers. doctors.
preachers, politicians. business men. and
citizens. all dated and hled according 10
sci iority or hygienic condition, and await
ing their several turns to be pressed INTO
service as complimentary OBITUARY
notices IT'S a happy thought-npt that
they must all be used in this connecticut
but in case some Of the most prominent
OF the men whose achievements are an
recorded i'm that little "morgue snQuld
pass peacefully away at A. NJ. now
much better 10 sit down comfortably III
the Office, and write a neat head over
your sketch. than to scour the city IN
search of the old college chum OF the
deceased.
1 remember two little Incidents which
have never failed 10 generate deal
of gratitude IN my heart at this season
OF the year. Some three years ago /
went out one night and looked at the
moon long time. When | resumed work
at my desk nothing would ease my rest
less spirit but to write some poetry. he
II said 10 my credit | have since learn
ed better. I was young then. Two
poems were the outcome OF my silent
communion with the moon, one of them
a weird sort Of thing such as usually
produces an .lea In the brain Of no one
but the author. the other, one or those
sentimental efforts that always REMINDS
me now OF warm mOlasses candy. Just
before the last form was sterotyped !
CHANGED 70 glance over II. The printer
had set up the phrase Two kindred
spirits like this: 1.-TWO hundred spirits
as though / were superintendent OF Il
cemetery. While making the correction
H.. loo 80. n
words Her Alabaster neck appeared IN
cold. hard type Her yaller-plastcr
neck" Since that night I've never WIT
ten anything more touching than the
proceedings of "a committee on retreuch-
ment AMI reform. 1 shall always be
grateful for that profitable experience.
So YOU viii see, patient reader, all of
US have something TO De tuauI>I-. lo..
How many of US really deserve what We
get2 You may complain of your lot and
imagine you deserve more. Perhaps YOU
do Most Of us are dissatisfied with our
lots. Was there ever a bricklayer who
didn't want to be a motOrmdn or SOM
thing else? How many doctors would
like 20 be lawyers, and vice versa? The
capitalist wants the earth, and the An
archlst claims the special privilege OF
blowing it up. And 50 O.. O. tnr, 81 o..
the list. But the editor and | are
add try 10 be satisfied. and offer your
thanks next Thursday for what you
have.
"Ingratitude is abhorred by God and
man" JACK or HEARTS