The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-09-16

WM III kVp-<2 lduuluS tHtHstiNtS
MN h as the authors of
VI their own distinc-
s5,h. ton. He was OF a
Tin fat habit, even (. ON
WI boyhood, and IN
olined to a cheerful and cursory read
Ing of the face Of life. and possible
this attitude of mind was the original
cause of his misfortunes. Beyond
this hint philosophy is silent on his
career, and superstition steps in with
the more ready explanation that he
was detested of the gods.
His father-that iron gentleman
had long ago enthroned himself on the
heights of the Disruption Principles.
What these are land in spite of their
grim name they are quite innocenD
NO array Of terms would render think
able to the merely English intelligence.
bat to the Scot they often prove unctu-
ousiy nourishing, and Mr.. Nicholson
found in them the milk Of lions. About
tho period when the churches convene
at Edinburgh in their annual assem-
blies he was to be seen descending the
mound IN the company Of divers red
headed clergymen these voluble. he
only contributed oracular mods, brief
negatives. and the austere spectacle OF
his stretched upper lip. The names
Of Candllsh and Begg were frequent
In these interviews, and occasionally the
talk ran on the Residuary Establish
ment and the doings Of one Lee. A
stranger to the tight little theological
kingdom of Scotland might have lis
tened and gathered literally nothing.
And Mr.. Nicholson (who was not q
dull mani knew this, and ragged at 1t.
He knew there was vast world out
side. to whom Disruption Principles
were as the clatter Of tree-top apes;
the paper brought him chill whiffs from
It; he had met Englishmen who had
asked lightly II he did not belong to
the Church Of Scotland, and then had
failed to be much interested by his
calculation of that nice point; 1t was
an evil, wild. rebellious world, lying
sunk In dozenedness, for nothing short
Of Scots word will point this Scots
mans feelings. And when he ena,ed
into his own house in Randolph Cres-
cent (sOuth side) and shut the door be-
hind him, his heart swelled with Sc
curity. Here, at least, was a citadel
impregnable by right-hand OBJECTIONS
or left-hand extremes. Here was a
family where prayers came at the same
hour. where the Sabbath literature was
unimpeachably selected. where the
guest who should have leaned to any
false opinion was instantly set down,
and over which there reigned all the
week. and grew denser on Sundays, a
silence that was agreeable to his ear,
and gloom that he found comfort
able.
Mrs. Nicholson had died about thirry,
daughter two years, and a son about
eight years younger than John; and
John himself, the unlucky bearer OF
name infamous in English history. The
daughter. Maria, was a good girl-du-
tiful. pious. dull, but SO easily startled
that to speak to her was quite peril
GUS enterprise. 81 don't think I care
to talk about that, II you please" she
would say, and strike the boldest
speechless by her unmistakable pain;
this upon all topics-dress. pleasure,
morality. politics, in which the formula
was changed to my papa thinks other
wfse," and even religion, unless 1t was
approached with particular whining
tone Of voice. Alexander, the young
e. brother, was sickly, clever, fond Of
books and drawing, and full Of satiri-
AQI ramnrka In tho mir nf
imagine that natural, clumsy, unintel-
hgent and mirthful animal, John;
mighty well-behaved in comparison
with other lads, although not up to the
mark of the house in Randolph Cres-
cent: full Of a sort Of laundering af-
lection. full of caresses which we're
never very warmly received; full Of
sudden and loud laughter which rang
out In that still house like curses. Mr..
Nicholson himself had great fund
of humor, of the Scots order-intel-
1ectual. turning on the observation Of
men; his own character, for instance
III he could have seen it in another
would have been q rare feast to him
but his sons empty outlaws over q
broken plate, empty, almost light
hearted remarks, struck him with pain
as the indices of weak mind.
Outside the family John had early
attached himself (much as a dog may
follow marquis) to the steps of Alan
Houston, lad about year older than
himself, idle, trifle wild, the heir to q
good estate which was still in the
hands Of rigorous trustee, and so
royalty content with himself that he
took Johns devotion as thing Of
course. The intimacy was gall to Mr..
Nicholson; It took his son from the
house, and he was jealous parent; It
kept him from the office, and he was q
martinez; lastly. Mr.. Nicholson was am
bilious for his family lin which and
the Disruption Principles he entirely
lived, and he hated to see son of his
play second fiddle to an idler. After
some hesitation he ordered that the
friendship should cease-an unfair