The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1895-07-10
OLD CHATTER BOX.


Most certainly the greateFt discovery
OF the age was that OF attraction Of gray
iiation, by Sir Isaac Newton. This is
one OF the most necessary laws OF nature,
yet II has caused more disappointments
and disasters than all others put togeth-
err. Many lives are lost by falling houses
and trees and by sinking vessels on the
water. And Aeranauts frequently lose
their lives by falling, all caused by the
attraction Of gravitation. l remember
when / was boy thought that Sir
Isaac Newton invented gravitation, in
stead Of discovering When l attempt
ed to climb steep hill l thought what a
hard hearted, fellow Mr.. Newton was.
And would consider it not very great
discovery or invention as 1 thought IL
was, after all, when / would linger under
an apple tree waiting for good apple to
fall, could not see why he did not make
the attraction a little stronger. But
when climbed the tree after that apple
and nay foot slipped and fell 1 thought
the attraction strong enough. Many
have spent their lives and died in dis
appointment, trying to invent perpetual
motion, which is prevented by the at
traction OF gravitation. Yet II it was not
for gravitation the planets Of the uni
verse would not be compelled to follow
their orbits and would rush together.
The people Of this earth would be thrown
into space and that would be greater con-
fusion of humanity than in a political
convention.
1t is said that contentment is wealth.
II this is so there is very little wealth in
this country, for there is very little con-
tentment. Like the pendulum that
swings to and fro, and is finally brought
to standstil by the law of gravitation,
are the American people, forever swing
ing from one extreme to another, but
must finally come to stop on solid
foundation.
We are always following some fitful
phantom to its furtherest retreat. Like
the pebble thrown into the middle of
lake, that creates a wave to be lashed on
the furtherest shore. The pendulum OF
human skill has swung from the dark
canoe to the majestic steamer From
the reap hook TO the self-binder. From
the zone boss shay" to the bicycle. The
time will come when we will fall back
to these former contrivances and swing
as far the other way.
'.s :
But the attraction OF gravitation GER
tainly has greater influence OF the PEN
dulum of fashion than any other For
in this respect 1t surely swings further
and faster and is hardest OF all to bring
to stand. Think Of the changes in the
style of dress in our recollection. The
extremes from one pattern to another.
A few years ago, the broader the toe OF
the shoe the better it suited the fancy of
the fashionable young man, now the toe
is so narrow as to cause the small boy to
ask him il he has only one toe. See the
change in pantsloons from the pipe
stems to the elephant legs. From the
long curly hair 10 the close single.
And the swing in the styles of dress OF
the women from one extreme TO another,
is even greater and more rapid. Observe
the swing from the broad hat, that al
most bankrupted all theater managers, TO
the diminutive affair 80 small as to re-
quire the aid OF the opera glass to see it.
From the lofty psyche to the gentle
coil on the back Of the neck. Remem-
Der the expansive hoop skirt and the
pull back. The French heel that caused |
them TO walk on their toes TO the spring
heel that compells them 10 walk as ma
ture intended them to walk. Note the |
change from the decolete to the choker
and from the street sweeping trail to the |
skirt so short as to bring TO light the deli
cate Trilby's. Well, do all husbands
remember the time when their wives
would call them in TO assist in extracting
their dresses, on account OF the close fit
OF the sleeves Now the pneumatic
sleeves or balloons force them TO enter
the door edgeways and the young man is
obliged to get in front Of his girl to re-
ceive her smiles. And so it is with all
occupations and professions among the
American people. The minister of the
Gospel, who once preached two hours
is now expected to stop in thirty min
utes. The music in the church that was
in olden times made by the good old !
brothers is now confined TO a soloist, ac-
by violin. The architect is
bringing forth new and ex-
IRENE designs. The time will come
when the pendulum will swing back and
vibrate as far in the opposite direction.
But as we grow older the vibrations Of
the pendulum OF nature like that OF art
must become shorter and shorter, till
finally We are drawn to mother earth.