Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-07

more pleasant than the ways of |
vice"
Mime. Fauvci had left her seat. and
approached nearer 60 the clown.
do YOU see anything on the ban
ner Ike what he is describing" asked
the melancholy lunch OF his neigh
oor.
Not "a thing DO you2"
The fact is. that the daubs Of paint
on the canvas represented one thing
as well as another, and the clown
could call them whatever he pleased.
Picture No. q" ne cried. after
flourish OF music This old lady.
seated before "a mirror tearing out
her hair-especiall the gray ones
you have seen before. do YOU recog-
nize her? NO. you do not She is the
fair mandrine of the first picture. I
see the tears in your ewes. ladies
and gentlemen. An, YOU have cause
60 weep. for she is NO longer virtu-
Gus, and her happiness has departed
with her virtue. Alas. IL is n sad talel
One fatal day she met, on the streets
of PeSin, a young rufiian, fendish, but
beautiful as an angel. and she loved
him-the unfortuute woman loved
him."
The last words were uttered IN the
most tragic tone as he raised his
clasped hands 90 Heaven.
During this TRADE he had whirled
around. SO that he found himself fac
ing the bankers wife. whose coun-
tennnce ne closely watched while he
was speaking.
You are surprised. gentlemen" he
continued. II arm not The great Biblo-
quet has proved 60 us that the heart
never grows old. and that the most
vigorous wail-fowers flourish on old
ruins. This unhappy woman is nearly
fifty years old-afty years old. and in
love with "a youth, Hence this heart
rending scene. which should serve as a
wurning 20 as all"
Really" grumbled a cook dressed
in white satin. who had passed the
evening In carrying around bills Of
fare, which no one read, Il thought
he was going 20 amuse us."
But" continued the clown. "you
must go inside OF the booth. 20 wit
ness the effects of the mandarine's
folly. At times. ray of reason pene-
trates her diseased brain. and then
the sight Of her anguish would soften
heart of stone. Enter. and. for the
small sum of ten sous, you shall hear
sobs such as the Odeon never echoed
in its halcyon days. The unhappy
woman has walked up 10 the absurdity
| and inanity of her blind passion; she
confesses TO herself that she is madly
| pursuing phantom. She knows. but
| too well, that be, in the vigor and
| beauty OF youth, can not love faded
| old woman like herself, who vainly
makes pitia bic efforts 20 retain the
last remains OF her once enchanting
| beauty. She feels that the sweet
\ words he once whispered in her
| charmed ear were deceitful false
hoods. She knows that the day is near
when she will be left alone. with moth
ing save his mantle in her hand"
As the clown addressed this volubls
description 70 the crowd before him,
he narrowly watched the coutenance
of the bankers wife.
\ But nothing he had said seemed %
affect her. She leaned back in her
armchair perfectly calm. and occa-
sionallv smiled at the tragic manner
of the Snowman.
Good heavensl" muttered the
clown, uneaslly, 'ean 1 be on the
wrong trackl"
He saw that his circle of listeners
was increased by the presence OF the
Idoge, NJ. de Clameran.
THE third picture" he said. after
a roll Of drums. depicts the old man
darine after shs has dismissed that
most annoying of guests-remorse--
from her bosom. She promises her.
self that interest shall supply the
place of love in claiming the too se-
ductive youth TO her side. IL is with
this object ihat sh- invests him with
false honOrs and dignity. and intro
duces him TO the chief mandarins oil
the capital OF The Celestial empire;
then. since so hnudsOme youth
must cut fine figure in society, and
as fine figure can not be cut with.
out money. the lady must needs to
sacrifice all OF her possessions for his
ssake. Necklaces. rings, bracelets
diamonds and pearls. all are surren-
idered. The monster carries all these
sjewels to the pawEbrokers on Ten
.Tsi street. and then mas the cruelty
ito refuse her the tickets, so that she
smay have chance of redeeming her
streasures."
Z The clown thou.ht that al last he
had hit the mark. Nine. Fauvel be.
agan TO betray signs of agitation.
Once she mnde an attempt TO rise
from the chair, but IL seemed as II
her strength failed her. and she
sunk back. forced to listen TO the end