The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-31


<Those religious conversaZiones in even
ing dress, with supper following, are
rather a variety entertainment, even
without Tootle on 'Amusements the
Dry-rot Of the Christian Church Wasn't
that the titler'
More or less; 1t couldn't be much
worse, at any rate. and for my part I'd
rather do an hour in the treadmill than
listen to that talk. Just hear him. Jack;
he's in his glory ON dancing"
''Do not suppose my friends an oily
voice was heard within, that all dane
ing is sinful, for David danced with
much acceptance. 1t is only what may
be called, if l be permitted such word
promiscuous dancing between sexes that
is condemned, not the joyful movements
of spiritual man. Many, indeed, would
like to see again the separate male
dance.
Isn't that good, Jack? And yet they
say those people have no sense of hui
NOR. How our host can stand Tootle
passes me, for he must know his record.
What was it? o, he had business
haby-linen or something like that-and
failed for eighteen pence to the pound.
Then he was secretary to some institute
or other, and got into difficulty with his
accounts. Now our host and a few other
excellent men keep him to lift religion
rather an irony.
"Do you see the smile on his face
That is one Of his points, and is much
admired. He has got his whole express
sion arranged to a religious grin, and
I'm told that they advertise him as The
Smiling Evangelist
"How in the world Crashaw is a man
tiko ArEwrioht fakon in nv Such q
transparent humburg? Arkwright is mar
row and bigoted, but he's as straight as
the day. You remember how he paid up
his failure, with FIVE per cent interest?'
"That's so; but you know his story, a
self-made man who has had no culture
and doesn't read anything beyond his
Bible and the wool spinner" so he's
just prey to the whole race Of ToOtle.
There, he's at it again."
"a dear sister present asks whether 1
know Of any edifying Sabbath game for
young people. My dear friend will ex-
cuse me if l suggest that exercise would
he a better word than game. Young
peoples Sabbath exercise let me say"
which was received with sympathetic
murmurs "Well, you must not think
it presumptuous if / mention a simple,
but ! hope not Improbable, little exer-
else which a dear child of my own in
vented, and which has been found help
full by many parents. We call it Scrip
ture quartets, and it is, l think, in
genious. Each card has a Bible char
acter on it, and four make a set. You
ask about till you get Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob and Joseph, that is, the patri-
archs. Then there are the babies Of the
Bible and the beasts, quite nice varie-
~"
what brought me TO listen to such
twaddle, Crashaw? Well, we do bust
ness with Arkwright, and he has no
cuartette nonsense, when he's on wool.
One has many social trials, and has it
ever occurred to you how much Mrs.
Arkwrigr has to endure living in this
atmosphere and paying homage to Too
tle?''
"By the way, Jack, people say she is
very handsome girl. and lady. How
did she ever marry Arkwright? Was it
religion-taking the veil, you know, as a
Protestant
II believe it was her mothers doing,
not her own, for my conviction is that
though she keeps up fair show, Mrs.
Arkwrght is not much troubled with re-
ligion. But the old lady was pious and
poor, and when Arkwright, who had
been so busy with wool and Bible read.
ing up to the age of 40 that he had new
er thought Of marriage, came forward
she grasped at the chance. Talked of il
as a providence that her girl should bt
committed to the charge OF such gooo
man.
''For my part, Crashaw," he went OF
in low tone, cit seems to me crime
against nature and. God to sac
rifce young woman to a hard, blood
less old Puritan Ike Arkwright, wh'
will not allow her to go to concert, O.
to dance, or to ride, or anything else tina
she would like, and would himsel
rather attend a conference, or whateye
they call it, and hear succession O.
ToOtles than be with his WIFE"
'This is the first time I've been il
Arkwright's house, Jack, and / came
too late to be presented to my hostess
but I'm quite convinced from your en-
thusiasm that Mrs. Arkwright is ex
tremely good looking. General rumol
has evidently your hearty approval"
"Cease from impertinence, old man
and I'll let you judge for yourself. See
there on Tootle's left, against the cur
tain. Isn't she beautiful?'
what an abandoned criminal tina
mother Of hers was" after pause o
silent admiration. "Why, Jack, tina
woman ought to have been a COUNTIES
and leader Of society in town. Her fac
is the most perfect piece Of Greciai
beauty ever saw-nose, eyes, chin
mouth perfect, forehead the slightes
bit high, perhaps, and that glorious hair
brown, shot through with gold.
"What set the other women are. Sh'
is like goddess among lot Of peas
ants; see how she holds her head ant
her proud gravity while Tootle drivel
along. Just the right attitude, since /
IL her husbands house, and Tootle il
their guest, she will not smile nor de
spise, but her majestic Indifference!
say, how do they get on together? You
visit them
ayes, but it's hard to say, for hi
heart is withered, although he is mos
just and generous to her. And she?
Well, she could not have loved him
h,,< Nfrc A vi oh harca1f