The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-03-27
TRILBY- FABLE.
BY GREY. EsopuUs TwIaGs, D. D."
From the Christian Observer.

tered my protest, I have yielded to
the inevitable, and mamie" (as her
set calls her) is now in society. She
dresses as becomes her station ; how
she can afford to dress up as she does
passes my comprehension, for I have
always been in close place financial
ly, barely escaping at the end Of each
year burden of debt. But her moth
er is a wonderful manager, and abhors
a debt and so when see my daugh-
ter arrayed in one of her stylish gowns
with inflated balloons for sleeves, /
confess to feeling of pride that am
able to dress her so elegantly though,
as I have said, I cannot comprehend
my ability.
knowing as I do the financial repu-
tation of the fathers Of some Of the
girls in Nancy's set who outshine her,
am persuaded that mothers other
than Mrs. Twiggs are wonderful mana
gers.
Several weeks since, Mrs. T. came
into my study with feather duster in
her hand, and after arranging some
papers on the desk, and some books
On the mantcl, and hitting things
generally with the duster, all of which
resulted in complete metamorphosis
of the room, she leaned gracefully
against the mantel, and said in half
tender, half business tone:
"Did you know that Nancy was be-
coming favorite in society ? She is
constantly being made the recipient
of favors and courtesies in the way OF
invitations out. In fact she is quite
sought after.
I expressed my qualification at Nan
cy's distinction. Mrs. T. went on !:
'iNow young lady in society cannot,
consistently with her position, be con-
stantly receiving favors without max
ing some sort of return q was
about to question the ethics of that
general proposition, but lost my op-
portunity.) "Nancy ought, in justice
to herself, to be allowed some sort OF
social function in her own home in
recognition of favors received. Ihave
thought over the whole matter, and
tried to arrange a social function,
which, while being perfectly consist
ent with Nancys position in society,
would not conflict with her relation to
the church, she being the minister s
daughter. Now, you know, MIR.
Twiggs, that while I do not agree with
you on some things, I always strive to
respect your views, though some OF
them do seem unreasonable and un-
necessarily narrow, Mrs. Us. views
until recently have been in exact
accord with mine, and so 1 have de-
cided to exclude cards and dominoes
and everything progressive there
Mrs. T. smiled, and have made up my
mind to have literar::' social func-
tion."
Seeing that Mrs. T. had made up
her mind, I ventured to inquire
whether a fin de siectc literary func-
tion included salutatory features.
''The idea No No, purely litera-
ry, with refresments-some plain cake,
bon bons and Roman punch. !"
"What's Roman punch p
"You just leave that to Mamie and
me !; we won't have anything that
would harm kitten"
ooh, we'll, then let the child have
her literary social function Mrs.
T. started to go, her face lit with a
smile of triumph, though not of exul-
ion,-when, moved with an incipi-
ent interest, I asked: "What sort Of
literature How do they do it ??
Each one recite a piece from his
favorite author p
"No, they are to discuss Trilby."
"Trilby Who is he }? never
heard of an author of that name. Is
he poet ?"
''Nir. Twiggs, you make me tired.
Trilby is novel by George du Mau-
rier, the artist. It is all the rage.
They have organized 'Trilby evenings
in Brummagam, and are talking OF
having them here:
"Ah, yes," said I, "I read criti-
cism somewhere on rather peculiar
novel there was awoman with foot,
is that it p
eyes" answered my wife, "Trilby
is psychological study !, the book
deals in hypnotism and the occult.
There is a wierd, religious mysticism
pervading it. A blending Of the
aesthetic with the emotional. It's a
book that will do to study"
"Have you read it, Maria p I in
"No, but I've heard it discussed. :"
"Well, my dear, let's wait day or
two, until I read the book, and then y
Here Mrs. T. marched out. After
dinner I inquired at the bookstore for
Trilby, but as the price was above my
expectations I went over to my young
friend, Tom Wilson, who being a re-
cent graduate from the law school, is
very literary, and he lent it to me.
Well, had done up the book ere |
closed my eyes. Early the next morn
ing, before breakfast, while I was en-
gagged in shaving, Nancy came in with
a smile on her face, and said beseech-
ingly: "Pa, can't I have the Trilby
party p
"No p 1 said, and she disappeared.
In a few minutes Mrs. T. entered
with cup towel on her arm.
Doctor" when she calls me just
doctor" I know that serious nego-
tiations are pending; Doctor she
said, ''you have bruised your poor
child's heart. She came to you, her
father, to ask simple favor at your
hands, and you snap at her, and nearly
scare the life out of her; there she is
now in the dining room sobbing as if
her heart would break.
maria" I returned, ~ am Pres
byterian preacher, and have been for
nearly quarter Of century, and you
are my wife, and you ought to know
me we'll enough to know that believe
what believe: I believe in the Bible.
When I begin to want something
better or worse than the Bible, l am
going to let you know it, the first one.