The Indianapolis journal., 1896-05-24
DIR. WITHROW IN 1876
BREEZY LETTERS BY THE MoDERA-
TOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.
Love-Makfng, PuIl-Back Skirts and
Clocked Stockings at Saratoga
Twenty-One Years Ago.

Rev. DR.. J. L. withrow. moderator of the
Presbyterian General Assembly. now sitting
at Saratoga. was pastor Of the Second Pres
byterian Church in this city from 1874 to
1876. He was one of the best preachers the
city has ever had. He made a distinct i'm
preston as pulpit orator and left behind
him an equally distinct memory of good
man. He went from here to Park-street
Church. Boston, and from there, after a few
years, to Chicago, where he is popular and
honored. His election as moderator of the
great representative body of the Presby-
terian Church is a deserved recognition of
his ability. character and services.
IN the summer of 1875 DR.. Withrow took
his outing by visiting Niagara Falls and
Saratoga. Like all good men OF that and
subsequent periods, ne was on good terms
with the journal, and during this trip he
sent 1t several letters. They were published
as special correspondence and signed u.
L. W." The first one. dated Niagara Falls.
Aug. 6. 1876. began as follows:
Here is hail fellow to every human an, bird
who can break the bars OF business controi
or dodge the dominion of domestic anairs
for few weeks Of life on the wing 1 am
in no mood TO moraltze, have no notion that
such an easy method OF filling space. The
open and unqualified fact of freedom from
care fills all my soul with joy. Books be-
hind: study room unswept of dust. trying
my best to forget how TO spell or speak the
words sermon or speech, congregation or
pastoral call. Who cares whether school
keeps or noty
To appreciate the spirit of this it must
be remembered that DIR. withrow was
twenty-one years younger than he Is now.
and was off for summer vacation. At the
age at which he was then even Presby-
terian minister who has laid off his harness
feels like kicking up his heels little. As
moderator Of the General Assembly, DIR.
withrow could not do this. After some
spicy reflections concerning the drawbacks
of sIeeping-car travel, the Doctor said of
Niagara Falls:
The first time we saw this wonder of
nature was a dozen years ago when We.
with about nifty other newiymade we's,
wended our honeyed ways from our bridal
not genteel in good society to omit TINS
trip at wedding time-never mind If 1t did
take the bottom nickel to do the business:
And yet what a farce it was, to be sure!
OF all the forty or fifty who had on their
unfaded orange blossoms when We wore
roses that not ten could tell whether the
water ran UP the falls or down the falls
when they went home. In the interests Of
son and ask whether two people who have
iust entered earthly paradise can be ex-
pected to care copper coin whether water
is solid or fluid, whether 1t flows or 1ies.
THE DOCTOR At SARATOGA.
This shows that the Doctor had begun his
outing in a true spirit of enjoyment. The
entire letter reflected this sentiment, and
was readable from beginning to end. Its de-
scriptive passages have not often been sur
passed. From Niagara the Doctor went te
Saratoga, whence his first letter was dated
United States Hotel, Aug. Is. 1875" 1t shows
the same spirit Of enjoyment and Of SYM
pathy with human nature, and the same
faculty Of observation At Saratoga ht
found, as he wrote. "a throng of fashions
votaries who set too high q value on fun
to care for cost. or worry much as to where
the money Ia to come from" After some OBJ
servations about summer resorts in general
and mention of some noted people there, the
Doctor said: ,sr-
Diversions admirably adapted to turn off
the mind from serious difficulties here
abound Every hotel has its band, the
three biggest having the best that money
can bring here. Music on the porch morn
ing and evening, with fun band in the ball.
hops and full-dress balls and garden parties
interspersed. The old and modest dances
are out, and everybody waltzes with any,
body and the closer the si catch ,h the Longer
are too tame and distant. There is moth
ing that enthnses 1 Ike the wsltz d Is it not
%aita than eat a0' ay Gnner .ai1 ai1
other dances are horrid. stupid!
These are the comments which flow
freely from the lips of young ladies along
floor. Charming? Yes.I would not wonder.
Heavenly? Have no doubt. But there are
possibilities connected ssherewiti, that would
for that immaculate place. We do not NOR.
alize. but merely note that the dances OF
pavids day, to which we have been pointed ts
old Virginia reel and the square dances OF
our prudent ancestors. are all done for In
these days, and the graceful amusement is
being conducted In much closer quarters"
The present moderator of the Presbyterian
General Assembly would not be likely to no
tice things exactly from that standpoint. bu
twenty-one years make difference Be-
sides, it must be remembered that on thi.
occasion DR.. withrow was taking an outing
His next letter was. written from tn
United States Hotel. Saratoga. Aug. g
Along with many interesting reflections ant
admirable pen pictures of persons ant
things. it contained the following:
Last night my drowsy ear was suddenly
startled by the low cooling of a devoted
couple whose utter unconsciousness of 9
material world around them mad reached
the climax, the moment of positive, com
parative, superlative and explosive attach.
ment, and sne said: Anywhere in the
world with you, darling. Now, you don'
| suppose that blissful. summit could ever
have been reached in common clothes, de
you? When we plain people In the dim ant
| distant past popped the. question We said
Sarah Jane, will you be miner. And shs
put the corner of her apron in her mouth
| and looked shy. and only said. Ask pa.
whose brilliants and. beauty and abandon
| embolden her to say, Anywhere with you
darling There Is little eccentricty IL
| fashion this summer which passes furthe
| beyond the modes of our mothers thar
most things that ] have seen. Hitherto
| the tickle mistress has contented hersel
| with tricks in trimming the bonnet, hat
| basque, sacque, skirt .-and oyerskirt. Sh,
| has played in feathers and flowers, frill
| and folds But now, forsooth, she forsake
| the outside and sets her mind upon the un
| derg garments. They must be of silk. The.
must be profusely trimmed with costly fab
| rics or expensive colors. Then, of course
! they must be exposed. What would Mistres
| Fashion have a thing made for If not {
| show. to strive to smite the suitor and be
| wilder the behoider?
STOCKINGS OF THE PERIOD.
"This being so there is a conflict now be
| tween fashion and female delicacy. Fashio
says the tie-back business is not sufficient
She is bound to bring natures charms int
still greater conspicuity. Consequently char
| acter, social standing, art and elegance o
toilet are now to turn on
| ladys stocking. They may b
| of isle thread, If they are absolutel
misty on fineness. But they ought to be o
silk. and silk of richest color. Then the in
| step has piece of fruit worked into Il. o