Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-11-17


have worse company, but | doubt It,"
was the response, but when we consider
that "a mans worst enemy is himself,
which applies to women also in more or
less degree, no doubt, IL is hardly posi-
BILE that we could have chosen poorer
shipmate. So. as there are 10 be three
in this party Of one, We can borrow your
editorial 1--WE"
Now that the good. byes are all said
and the crowd on shore has waved last
adieu, with flags, handkerchiefs, shoulder
capes and all available articles OF head
gear, how natural to weave romanees
and tragedies about our fellow travellers.
There IA sad side as we'll Ms bright,
TO all the jourueyings OF life, and tn.
sad and heart-breaking scenes witnessed
here. tell us that sorrow we have Away,
" 18th US, far more than Joy, for where
there Is one who smiles there are ten
who weep.
Here are two beautiful young girls,
gentle, loving and trusli1g, leaving their
father and mother and home for the first
time, TO sail out into the sea of life-for
study In a foreign land. Their clinging
arms can scarcely be loosed from thu
embrace of those who must go back
home To the lonely, dark and gloomy
house, before filled with laughter, sun
shine and song. The younger tries To
keep up brave heart, but the older
aud taller weeps silent tears. We would
fain whisper to her, with Whitcomb
Riley. There, little girl, don't cry" but
we realize that perhaps before her return.
she will have reason To cry because
They have broken your heart, | know.
And here is another middle-aged
man, who swallows n sob as he graspS
the hand OF his friend with "Goodbye.
and God bless you, Joe; you have beer
a good friend 10 me-" And the friend
tries To comfort by saying, Cheer up.
old man, It will be all right when you
get over there"
III thought II would not, this ship
would never bring me to land, God heip
me-" was the answer.
IL Il easy 10 read the tragedy OF life In
this mans face. A few years ago he han
married young aud talented girl. H.
lavished everything on her that wealth
and devotion could command. All went
we'll till six months ago when he gave u
reluctant consent 10 her going abroad TO
study her cherished art, with the promise
that ne would Join her In year. Ai
first her letters came almost daily, fnll
OF "a gerness for him TO come, but OF late
they had grown less and less frequent
and more and more cold, and IL had come
10 his ears more or less directly that in
iluences were at work on her against
him, aud this, together with the glamour
OF the fascinating life in the gay capito'
to which she was unusally susceptible
had made him feel that she was slipping
from his grasp, and with her, the world
life, and all.
Unlike all the rest OF Us his thoughts
were not with the ones left behind, but
with the one Ia whom he was Fastening,
and each moment seemed an eternity To
wait.
But the most interesting figure OF all IL
this tall. stately woman, standing apart,
silent and alone. No hand has touched
hers with parting grasp, no lips have
uttered one solitary goodbye. We seem
to hear her saying 10 herself-"Roamlng
alone through this worlds wilderness
Shall find forgctfulness Shall ! iiod
rest? Never, till the soul Is loosed from
its moorings and sails into eternity.
Even then know not but 10 will dri't I
helpless, rudderless, as this poor heart
has drifted and tossed on the billows OF
emotion-that far more tempestuous and
relentless sea than the mighty deep W.
traverse"
.,sa,.tnn Ia fprnnd m
passengers below in the steerage, and II
there are those who turn away ana say
there Is no romance in life among the
lowly, let him read the madonna OF the
Tubs" by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, ana
look down here and see this young lover
with the languishing though fervent
ewes and sun-browned cheek that italian
skies alone can bestow, as he rushes once
more up the narrow gang-plank 70 say
one more goodbye 10 his sweetheart
aud implores her in an agony OF entreaty
In the soft musical language OF Italy tn
Come backbone back-do not GO
away aud leave me- She whispers that
,he will be true. viii she keep her
word: All. who can tell: Words mean
so little and human hearts so much.
Then look at this poor, forlorn Arabian
mother, sitting on the quay, nursing on
her lap an infant, as she stretches out
her arms to the departing ship, bearing
away 10 their distant native land, her
husband and her little Cecilia. a few
years ago they had come 10 this country
like thousands of others, with the
thought that work was plenty, and all
they touched would turn 10 gold; bu'
.'alas, that bread should be so dear sDd
flesh and blood so cheap" They had
struggled along bravely for time, bu'
the rigorous New England climate had
begun 10 make inroads on his health,
and al last, after months OF the most
extreme poverty and privation, some
charitable people found them, and raised
money enough TO send the father ana
eldest child back 10 Arabian warmth and
skies-but the mother must remain, to
travel all day long, up and down the
street, carrying her babe on one arm and
heavy basket containing her little
stock in trade OF pins, needles and trink-
cts, on the other, which she sells from
house to house. or tries TO, for no one
will buy, and the doors OF the rich are
more often shut in her face than Is the
door of the humber cot, ''for such Is the
rarity OF Christian charity" But not
for long, we trust, will her longing eyes
look In vain, for the same tender hands
that reach out from an humble firesidc
we wot Of, and TO which her weary feet
often turn for rest and comfort and
cheer, will not fail TO speed her foot
steps az last from the "Wanderer'
Home" across the seas TO those who
watch and wait.
Then here comes our companion OF tht
East Boston ferry boat, "a gentleman ol
the suld sod. who with his two sons
and their wives and children, is going
back TO Erin's green isle. The elasticit,
of youth is in his aged limbs, and h'
picks up his feet like high stopper o.
the turf. The ''auld woman" years befor'
fore has crossed over the other side-no
the side towards which their footstep:
are tending, but TO 'the other side OF
Jordan"
But no more of romancing, for thu
r, ceding spires of the ''city Of churches
are fading fast from view-whether witt
distance or other dimness OF vision, 1t Il
not necessary to say, and so, dea'
friends. adieu.
Our first stop will be at Queenstown
Cork harbor, and il all goes well durinl
this voyage OF ten days, the next lette
| will be sent from the shores OF the lant
where the shamrock waves.
The suit Of an employe against tn
Bates Mill Co. in Lewiston last week
involved the construction of the reguia
tions of the company, which provide FOL
the forfeiture of one weeks wages II