The Washington herald., 1906-12-30

At first reading. this text may seem in
.congruous. and a medley of sounds with
out meaning-vox ct praterea nihil On
careful study, however. I think the con-
traly will appear. This is speech Of ex-
ultation from q merry heart At the time
of its composition bards and singers
travelled through England and amused
the people with Rotations and songs.
For these they received pay, and there
was well established price on each reci-
tation and song. Money In those days
was not so plentiful as now, and the
prices Of songs were not to be measured
by what we pay for concerts and operas.
Doubtless in those days siXpence would
be regarded as a fair price for a very
good song. The text was probably the
exclamation Of some joyous youth with
n pocket full Of rye" (Which meant
money on hand, describing fanciful
dinner given to the king. No doubt some
device was used by great nobleman
TO amuse his majesty. by placing four
and twenty blackbrds In something hay
ing the appearance of pie, and at a
given signal the top was lifted and the
birds Hew out And wasn't that dainty
dish 10 set before a king"
DO you not see lesson in this? Here
is iovlal fellow ordering "a song at the
price OF slx2ence. being fully able to do
so, for he mas "a pocket full Of rye
for what? Because his king has been en-
tertaiued IN a novel way, and no doubt
highly amused and pleased But wig
should he be so happy over the enIoymen-
Of the king? Perhaps he caught the
blackbirds. or made the mock pie. and he
therefore, becomes in Il way an enter
tainer of his majesty. Is this not con-
summation which nearly an men desreE
DO they not rejoice in association with
the great, and feel pride in having their
names connected In any way with those
of the great ones Of the earth2 DO you
not see il around you every day. Many
a man viii spend thousands of dollars 10
entertain "a great man, who viii not give
"a dollar TO relieve the suffering poor.
Many viii give money for a great dinner
10 a famous man OF woman. who Will not
give q dollar 70 buy food OF coal for the
poor. And is Is % be noticed that when
these entertainments and dinners are
given, the most or hostess does not fan
10 nave the iltllt4t@ Oh Alt'4l must us
tlngushed guests announced i'm the news
papers.
IL might bc asked what does 10 profit
Jack Thingumbobs that be has enter
tanned at dinner the Ambassador from
No Mans Land. the Duke Of DucktOwn,
or the Senator from Hollow Hin? He
thinks IL profits him very much. He
im8g.ues that the world viii think that
he Is an Intimate and confidential friend
OF his guest and bis wife and eldest
daughter are sure it Will greatly enhance
their standing .n society. And so IL goes.
Every fellow. uO difference how vulgar 5T
ignorant whose pockets chance OF dis
honesty has dlied with money, thinks
that He elevatcs himself by having those
FAR above him Co parJake Of his viands
and drink has wines. little thinking how
often his guests secretly laugh at his
vglgar.ty and want of sense and ridIcuie
both him and his family.
After all. Il may be- best. even If we have
or have not "a pocket full of rye 10
occasionally iunpoently amuse ourselves
and others with whatever dainty dish We
may possess which VIII fulfill the purpose.