The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-17

| speech of it's waters, the stately pro-
| gress of its days the timid surprise
| of its seasons, drifting one into the
other 1t was like composition with
periodic melodieS-a note was
struck in the opening of the phrase,
1t required at the end, it disappeared
| in the waves of new and unexpected
harmonies, only to reappear four SEN
| fences away to softly brush the SEN
| siblities like a well-remembered and
| well-loved hand. That the lecture
| was Art, no one who took the trouble
| TO listen Will deny-but was it "elo-
| quence' or has the Dictionary a mo-
nopOly on the gift?
During the progress of the Huff trial
last week there came on the stand a
young country woman who, had she
been raised in town, would doubtless
have figured as a noticeable type of
petite beauty. AS it was, the work of
the house had ruined her hands and
her fiower-like face was a shade too
lean and her mouth, curved by nature
in cupid's bow, had been distorted in
the lower lip by a constant burden of
snuff so that it hung heavily and
wrecked what would otherwise have
been a well-nigh perfect oval face. But
there is nothing which can counterfeit
IL
is the death of beauty. Tobacco-chew-
ers masticate the weed on the rear
grinders, while the snuff fiend lets it
lie and absorb in front of the teeth in
the folds of the lower lip. Once
formed, this habit of distention con-
tinues even after the snuff is gone and
the mouth is spoiled. This woman,
dark brunette, had the hair and
the dark and fathomless eyes which a
painter would rave over. From the
small ear which peeped pinkly from
the dark masses of clustering hair, the
fine line of the jaw swept on in a per-
feet curve to a deliciously moulded
chin, infinitesimal in size and yet with
a piquant firmness. And yet the face
was unattractive-it was the snuff.
This witness, by the way, sprung on
the court one of those phrases of the
country which are so homely and yet
So expressive. In telling of what the
prosecutriX had said of the defendant
after his preliminary hearing, she
quoted her as saying:
He held as bright face as ever
you saw"
What, pray, could be better than
that?-could convey q stronger pic
ture. with more fidelity to truth? The
face was bright and he held it so.
The whole story of jaunty attempt to
tdlIy OI llSHlly d SeIlOuS
lies in those few words.
A Raleigh grandpa, who is proud of
the fact was telling the other day of
a letter written by his daughters
seven-year- from the country town
at which he is visiting a relative:
Dear Mamma wrote the young
ster, there is a little baby mule here
that follows me all around just like d
dog. He is a orphan"
think of that poor BEAST" says the
grandfather. Consider the pity of his
state, the burdens of adversely he
must bear! Afflicted from birth-des-
titute of either the sustaining pride of
ancestry or the hope of posterity-and
orphan! Sad, sad!'
That erratic genius who some time
ago wrote the TALES of EX-Tanks"
ought to have seen the long, lank
figure that was bundled from a car
riage into the station house the other
day. There was over six feet of him
and he was as limp as a rag so that
the two big policemen strained to lift
him down the steps. How he came
there is story that bellies the old
fallacy that a kindly fate follows the
drunkard's steps-belies or confirms it
as runs the point of view.
Very drunk but still on his feet, the
man got off an incoming train and
entered a carriage
Take me to Freshman Belvin's,'
he said-"Very good frense of mine
Freshman Belvin-takshe care of me
-hic-Shee!"
The hack rolled off and duly arriv-
ed at its destination. Both Mr.. and
Mrs. Belvin were at home and, as they
Mad never seen the stranger and he
had gone to sleep in the meanwhile,
they were in a quandary. All efforts
to awake the visitor failed, 50 the
policeman got in the carriage and
drove his self-invited guest to the sta
ton.
"Knew I'd get pulled anyway said
the stranger the next morning; $50 L
thought I'd save time, money and
trouble by pulling myself"
Paying the fine cheerfully from
big wad of money, the stranger started
to the dispensary.