The sun., 1897-12-25

IN early manhood, after he had partaken Of the |
modest hospitality OF downtown restaurateur.
Ho having finished satisfying meal OF cornoo |
beef and cabbage and some strong coffee, thore |
appeared 10 him Minerva, goddess OF Wisdom
and Of Art, and, with her, two attendant ana
unpleasant imps with ropulsivo faces ana
twisted forms that seemed innocent OF cloth
ing and OF nothing else" In tones not loud but
deep, and not piercing but musical. Minerva
announced her friendly feelings toward Mr.
Alden.
lam the Goddess of Intelligence aud Of Work, the
Work that knows tiring. Ergon, the most blessed
thing on earth. Thou hast bson my devoteo. wiz
thou mako of ths past novtiate and pcrsevero
to the endf Truly my rewards are great and worthy
OF thy highest nature.
And Mr.. Alden murmured low "Then, indeed,
shall bo rich, or shall bo powerful, perhaps
both" At this point an expression OF fierce
contempt seemed to have been carved into the
alabaster OF Minerva's face, and she made
known her bitter disappointment in her devotee.
from whom she had expected better things.
"Then thou-thou, too. art like the rests like the
paltry crowd OF petty. contemplate time serversl
Aye. be rich II thou wilt; bc powerful II thou
wilt: what matters It to me? IT'S only one moro
hope gone wrong. Let tho oiympians laugh IL they
WILL Ambition. stand forth"
And the Imp at the right of tho Goddess stood
forth In all his hideousness, offering q flask
labelled "Toxicon-Poison," which is liquor
that makes tho drnker powerful but cruel and
false to man and woman.
Mr.. Alden shrank. "Take 1t away" he cried.
land let tho garcon Of Gchenna go with 1t.
Perhaps wealth is better after all. Give mo
wealth."
Whcreupon the other imp stood forth. uglier
than his fellow. and bearing q flask Of liquor of
the same undesirable brand.
Drink !" said Minerva, "and you shall have
mines OF gold and wear purple and fine linen
every day. But you will have no friends, but
fiatterers in plenty; no sympathy about thee,
but simplctons. till life becomes burden" Mr..
Alden nearly shrieked his answer:
"Let that black draught 60 to Join the other in the
roalm of Pluto. where It came from Let the imp 60
and play with his fellow In the birthstone piles OF the
neither world Majestic Minerva am thine hence
forth and forever thine Alone Work 10 my destiny,
and Work shall be my pleasure! Hail Ergon, Hail
"'' Rewards? Yes shall have rewards such
as the paterers touch for shall recall thy
face oh Paas Athena, thy face smiles now into
| these two eyes Of mine |"
"work on. work everi" she cried. "And I, Pallas
Athena, am always with thee!"
At just about this point the waiter woke Mr..
Alden up and he paid his check and went home,
| and the sequel, he tells us, Is that he has kept
! his vow and Minerva's word has held good.
| The reader will perceive that his narrative is
not unprovded with eloquence; that strange
and startling psychological experienced may
sometimes be met with in q downtown restau-
rant. and that much unsupported virtue may lie
hidden In plate of corned beef and cabbage and
| pot of strong coffee.
In the beautifully illustrated volume by Miss
| Edith Wharton and Mr.. Ogden Goldman, Jr., on
"The Decoration of Houses" (Scribners) plea
ia mt forward for the aim NJ nld n.
! DDS as compared with those of many of the mod
ern decorators, and an attempt Is made to show
| that in the treatment of rooms we have passed
y" From the golden age Of architecture to tho
gilded age OF decoration"
| In q chapter on the historical tradition the
authors advocate reasonable conformity to
those traditions of design which have been
tested by generations of architects, and dwell
on the Importance Of rhythm and logic as the
basis OF oil good decoration. Their work is as
distinguished by it's breadth and catholicity of
taste as by the skill and care with which every
branch Of a fascinating subject is treated.
Under the title of Lullaby Land" Messrs.
Scribners publish collection of Eugene Fields
! songs OF childhood, selected by Mr.. Kenneth
Grahame. and with many graceful and humor.
GUS illustrations by Mr.. Charles Robinson.
We have also received:
Tho Workers; an Experiment in Reality" !"
| waiter A. Wyckon. (Scribncrs.)
with the Seasons" Verses by Mary Au-
gusta Mason. "a. d. F. Randolph Company)
Harvard Episodes" Charles NJ. Flandrau.
| copeland s. Day.
"All's Right With the World" Charles B..
Newcomb. (The Philosophical Publishing Com.
pany, Boston.)
George Forrest" A novel. Wayerley
Greene. dillingham;
"Sweethearts and Friends" A novel. Max
| well Gray. iAppletons.)