The sun., 1897-12-25

will be less disturbing to tho nerves OF appre-
hcnsive readers than In less propitious circum-
stances It might have been. But II the recent
amicable understanding between President Nc
Kinley and the Miksdo 10 fortunate for MS, II is,
In the light OF this book stlll moro fortunate for
Japan, for In the prophetic eye Of Mr.. Palm.
or the Japanese feet Is almost annihlated
by our devourlng demons Of the sea,
and tho Japanese people at homo al, have
their umbrellas up TO ward of the impending
shower OF our correcting cannon balls. That
tho Spaniards on account Of Cuba, will ever
come to New York In order to DO devastated and
fatally submerged by Capt. Zalinsh's attenu'
ated and pneumatic gun-a glorious and melan.
choly happening likewise foresoen by Mr..
Palmer-is also unlikely. Not to be able to sup
press Cuba is hardly an incentive to tho dons
and the Rrandees TO attempt the subordination
of the United States; and. SO far from tho spec
tacle of an outburst Of angry and consuming
fame from the several windows Of Castle Will
liam we must look. wo suspect, for an indefinite
continuation OF tho familiar placid mien attach
ing to that comfortable pink fortress. Incl.
dcntally we may declare our sorrow on account
of the great disappointment OF certain deserv-
ing veterans mentioned in Mr.. Palmer's story.
Tho old veterans" ho says. took 1t all In,
and as many drinks Of various kinds as the oo
casion warranted, and that was surely no small
allowance. But they got away with IL Just as
easily as they would have swallowed the
Spanish bcggars IL they had only landed" or
course tho story is only forecast, and actually
the veterans will have no opportunity to take 1t
all in and get away with it. Perhaps they will
bo able to find some consolation in reading Mr..
Palmers book. Imagination is q good deal.
though we must say that we never knew vet
eran who would not swap II for the real thing.
The reader who is not dismayed by certain
amount Of sentimentality. and who agrees with
that philosopher who expressed his willingness
to dispense with the necessaries II providence
would give him tho luxuries Of life, may find
some interest and should certainly find some
amusement in o slim volume The Good
Things Of Earth. For Any Man Under the
Sun" ARTHUR Gray & Coz Herein, in series
Of essays collected from various sources, several
Of those things that minister to mans comfort
and enjoyment are considered. His pipe and
his cigar, his slippers his latchkey, and his
razor are looked at either from humorous or
sentimental point OF view, while the chatting
dish Is very properly treated OF as milestone
on the road of human progress and symbol Of
humanity's advance toward tho higher civil
ization.
Mr.. Julian Ralph writes very pleasantly Of
the delights of briar-wood pipe and the
life Of the wild woods and. as o man of feeling,
pays a tribute to the memory of a young
woman Of the remote East. who had pretty
ways and q number Of beautiful silken suits in
which she was won't to sit with him and smoke
her tiny pipe in amiable innocence.
How pretty she looked, how graceful were her
postures how poetic the movement OF her arms dur
ing that minute! How sweetly she smiled when
handed match to her. and how calm and wise her face
grew as she sucked up the three mouthfus OF SMOKE
and let them curl away from between her teeth.
May meet you and smoke with you again. and when
do may you know that the smoke OF my pipe is in
reality incense offered at the altar of virtuous
womanhood.
Slippers are considered by Mr.. Charles NJ.
Skinner in their symbolic and sociological
aspect-as instruments OF authority in their
almost too obviously humorous relationship to
the education of tho small boy, and as repre-
sentative of mans freedom from the trammels
Of custom and conventionality in his maturer
years. Nor are their merely practical and use.
full properties overlooked, as Mr.. Skinner knows
Of at least one travelling man who carries his
tooth brush, hair brush, comb razor, and soap
In his slippers. and he has even heard of persons
who have used them receptacles for money.
In witness of which he cites the case of q trav-
eller who. in the hold up Of Western train.
saved his "wad" by hiding It in one of these use-
full articles. That you may move about in
that II you wish to put your feet on the table or
the mantelp acc. it is better to do In slippers
than boots are facts that will be disputed BY no
fairminded person. The slipper is Furthermore
treated from the sentimental point of view in
the story of q poor artist, who. looking one day
from his lonely garret, saw at a window over the
| way fair, sad face. Also he heard a sweet, sad
song, and rightly assocating the song with the
| fair. sad face. and being an artist and impress
sionable. he loved the singer.
After the lamps were lighted he scratched together
few COINS hurried to florists spent his all for
flowers. and went back to his studio. And now tho
problem offered. how to get the bouquet to her
without impudence or imprudence. Ha' An inspirar
ton! He thrust tho into one of his slippers
and tied them In. Hush She Is singing again.
As tho last note is reached he leans far
| out aims carefully. and throws HIS offering.
| He has sucoeeded. The bouquet-And the slipper-
ny through the tall window. He hears a little
| shrek; then the face is looking curously
about the street. Again their eyes meet and this
time 1t is the artist who bushes Tho slnger gives
merry little laugh pulls from the cluster and
| puts It In her hair
At this point, perhaps, tho reader wonders
what happened to the slipper. Was it q carpet
onei And did she wear it. mute messenger OF
love. forever next her heartl And, incidentally.
would not half brick projectile have an
| swered the artists purpose just as we'll But
| the symbolism and the sentiment of the story
are yet to come. One night, years after. the ar.
tist, prosperous, but no longer in the flush OF
| youth" goes to the opera to hear new prima
donna. Tho intelligent reader needs not to be
told that this is tho heroine Of the carpet slipper
| and the mild filtration.
| thrill went into his heart. and vast love repos
| sessed him. 1t was she. He led the applause
| when the solo ended and the curtain had hardly
fallen the first act before he rushed from the
| building and into the street. He bought clump Of
lilies OF the valley at florists, and at a neighborina
shop he bought pair OF slippers Tossing OF the
pair upon the oor the astonishment Of the clerk
he put the flowers into the other and hurried back tc
the theatre. Again the woman appeared. and the
audience sat spellbound through her song. A.
1t ceased the artist tossed the slipper. with its ow
ers to her feet She picked It up. turned PALE and
for seconds. forgot to smile. The Of smit
| ing palms, the shouts OF "Bravor' were unheard
She back in that other city She loved. and she
al.a