The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-24
MANY MEMENTOES
OF MARY STUART.

rho visitor Of Hollywood palace IN thIs
twentieth century will be shown, among
other 1nemcntoes Of Mary Stuart. erst.
while queen OF Scotland. ner work has
ket which holds. together with needles
case and thit1ble. n fragment of en-
b.odery that her fair fingers once touch.
ed ana over which her proud head once
bent as she traced upon IL an intricate
pattern In leaf and flower. jus, n BIZ or
unfinished work-thIs embroidcry--but
how eloquently the stitches that were
never taken speak of the broken of lie
to which they bear so sorrowfl an
analogy.
Who. In looking at the yelloSing strip
Of muslin can estimate what sweet fan
ces and joyous hopes were interviewer
In the forming of each petal and the
shaping OF each bud, fancies that faded
ere their fowcring;t hopes that wlthcred
IN the blighting atmosphere OF uncon-
geniality and interpretation!
The fair fingers forgot how to be busy
some centuries ago and the proud head
was brought cruelty low, yet square jof
cambria, d needle rusting where last a
thread was drawr--and the onlooker
, pauscs to listen to the sermon preached
by the pathos Of the unaccompished and
tho unattained, as excmplifed in the life
OF the most beautiful and unfortunate
woman Of her time.
How many such sermons strike on the
consciousness and smile the heart in
every life and living! 1t may be only the
sudden break in the glad flow OF laugh
ter on the lips OF innocent childhood: 1t
may be the song that remains unsung,
the message that IS left unspoken. the
book that Is not written, the house that
is never bullt-all these voice eloquently
the tragedy OF emptiness and Incomplete
ness and make an appeal. but the more
unanswerable, because Of Its pitlful sad
ness.
For tho song unsung may have scared
to the gates Of heaven and brought
brightness into the lives Of all who heard
It. Pain and suffering may have been
lulled by its music; It's glad notes may
have awakened dormant desires and re-
kindled the fires OF burnt-out ambitions,
may have given fame and a career In life
to the singer whose heart SPOKE through
its words.
The message left unspoken may. in
its telling, have reconciled hearts long
estrnnged. may have bridged the gulf Of
silence grown wide Sand deep with the
passing OF years, may have rested like
benediction upon the brow of the pen
itcnt. or thrilled like a breath OF prayer
above the head OF the hayward and err
ring!
The unwritten book may have beguiled
hours for the weary and heavy hearted:
may have brought back the past and
made It glow with beauty. burn with ac-
ton. kinde with the ardor Of chivalry,
shine with the steady flame OF patriotism
and press forward in the concentrated
force OF purpose and energy. It may
have forecast the future, that ''land Of
hearts DESIRE" towards whose delecta-
BILE mountains countless feet are ever
pressing and never reaching; 1t may
have peopled this ideal domain with
cities, bathed in golden sunshine within
whose walls the flower of love blossoms
fair and full leaving no room for the bit
ter roots OF unsatist1ed longing' where
Anticipation. with a light-hearted smile,
shuts the door In the face of Reality
and clothes her kingdom in the lowell
ness OF her own rare furnishings.
The unbuided house-how stately
and noble may have been its proportions
how lofty and spacious its chambers
how hospitablc it's entrance! How the
fires may have cleaned on It's hearthstone
and lighted the faces in the pleasant
home circle drawn around its cheerful
blaze How the corridors may have
echoed to the merry patter of childish
What shelter and refuge it may have
been from the struggle and the tur-
moil of the outside world. how safely
guarded from it's clangor and its strife!
How far-reaclSns may have been the in
huencc of the spirit OF love that reigned
within its walls, that shone In the glance
OF sweet eyes, and came through the
uttcrance in the pearls and diamonds"
OF speech from sweet lips! For this
house. not fashioned to its completeness
by human hands. may have been, never
simply a building Of stone and mortar,
but a home center for the hottest and
tenderst affections and emotions
Alas and alas. for the song unsung the
message unspoken, the book unwritten
and the house unbuilded! Above the
grave OF their incompleteness Is written
the saddest of all epitaphs, the epitaph
traced in the words:
TT might have been,
But it was not.