The record-union., 1896-12-27

abused keyboard that self-same jour
nal would be the very first to declare
her great.
Miss Helen Byron, who has been WIS.,
iting her brother, George Byron, for
some weeks past, has returned to her
home in San Jose.
Miss Helen Harrington has returned
to her post in the stock company here,
after a two weeks engagement with the
Gnismer- Davies Company in the Cot
ton King" at the Columbia Theater, San
Francisco.
1t is stated on authority that Mrs.
Olive Reed, who sang to us in the Conn
Kidder concert on Friday, the 18th
inst, is to be married in May to Seth
Cushman of Alameda. Mrs. Reed is the
daughter of Charles G.. Reed of the
| Union National Bank of Oakland. Mr.
Cushman is said to have little taste or
inclination for society diversions, and
is also said to have been entirely heart
whole until he met his bride-elect.
There has been good deal of talk in
one way or another ever since the event,
which by the way was accounted a
| great success" about the Charity Ball.
Now any object in which sweet charity
is concerned is surely worthy one and
to be emulated. 1t is worthy of remark
right here that the Clunie Opera house
people, great and small, from the man
agement to the doorkeeper, gave their
services in matinee Wednesday after
noon, the entire proceeds of which were
designed entirely to the making Of a
Christmas for the poor and orphans in
our midst. But in this Charity Bail,
some way incongruous elements came
/ together, that involuntarily set one TO
defining the word charity all over again.
Charity-Webster defines it as liberal
ity aims, candor; Campbell gives II as
kindness, tenderness, beneficence, and a
certain venerable and awfully unfash-
| ionable holy book that is not nearly so
much consulted nowadays as it used to
| be- makes it synonymous with love
which is best of all and covers the entire
ground Charity suffereth long and is
ing in connection with these evidently
dissimilar types or interpretations of
charity. There are many people, at least
SO it seems to me, who lay no particular
stress upon either the word or it's mean
ing. 1t was one of these very people,
who if not among the prime movers in
the affair, was at least deeply interested,
who first set me thinking on the subject.
1t was this way: The price to be fixed
upon for the sale of tickets of admission
underwent great deal of discussion
before the matter was definitely settled
One heard it argued upon in dress
makers shops. where dainty frocks were
being fashioned for the event; on street
corners and in private houses. In short
wherever a sufficient coterie of society
danes happened to be assembled. At
one Of these gatherings a certain little
woman declared herself in favor of hav-
| ing the price fixed at So per ticket, while
many others thought it was too much TO
ask for single admission, whereupon
the little lady 90 asserted vehemently
that in no other way could the common
people, be kept out. Yet this woman s
of the many common" mortals who
work for their daily bread, and his wage,
like as many more in his position, is
but $40 month. What is it that con-
stitutes "commonness" in humanity?
Lack of money or-lack of brains? Is
it the mind or the pocket book that is to
be the criterion of our standard in life?
Ye snobs and little fish-hooks! Is the
world progressing or deteriorating? :?
| Truly the angels that
Sung upon that midnight clear
The glorious song Of old,
! Which was heralded in the new era of
love to our fellow creatures, would
weep tears of blood over the seeming
| failure of the message they brought, in
its effects upon the weak, erring hearts
of mankind, were it not that there are
a few faithful ones still striving to fol-
low in the footsteps of the infant Christ
| whose birth we have just been celebrat-
| ing, and heed His new commandment
Thou shalt love they neighbor as thy
self" POLLY OLIVER.