Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-08-04

shoe store, and that glass Of mill
from the bottle on the window sill ani
an egg that bolls itself while you twis
up your hair make a breakfast goot
enough for any one. Florence laughed
when she heard "Blinker."
"Well." she said. 1T certainly show!
that you have imagination. 1t give!
the Smiths chance for little rest
anyhow"
They landed at Coney and were dash
ed on the crest Of great human wave
Of mad pleasure seekers into the walk:
and avenues Of falryland gone into
vaudeville.
With a curious eye, a critical mind
and fairly withheld judgment Blinkel
considered the temples. pagodas and
kiosks Of popularized delights. Ho
polloi trampled. hustled and crowded
him. Basket parties bumped him
Sticky children tumbled, bowling. un
der his feet, candying his clothes. In
solent youths. strolling among the
booths with hard won canes under one
arm and easily won girls on the other
blew defiant smoke from cheap cigars
into his face The publicity gentlemen
with megaphones. each before his own
Btupendous attraction, roared like nj
| agara in his ears. Music Of all kind!
that could be tortured from brass, reed
hide or string fought in the air to gair
space for its vibrations against Its com
petitors But what held Blinker II
| awful fascination was the mob, thu
multitude. the proletariat. shrieking
struggling, hurrying, painting, hurting
itself in incontinent frenzy, with un
abashed abandon, into the ridiculous
sham palaces Of trumpery and tinse
pleasures. The vulgarity Of 1t. its bru
tai overriding of all the tenets Of re
preston and taste that were held by
his caste, repelled him strongly.
In the midst of his disgust he turned
and looked down at Florence by his
side. She was ready with her quick
smile and upturned happy eyes. IL:
bright and clear US the water in trout
pools. The eyes were saying that the!
had the right to be shining and happy
| for was their owner not with her ifol
the PRESENT. man, her gentleman friend
| and holder Of the keys to the enchanted
city of fun?
Blinker did not read her look accu
rately. but by some miracle he sud
denly saw Coney Alright
He no longer saw mass Of vulgari
ans seeking gross joys. He now looked
clearly upon hundred Thousand true
idealsts. Their otfenses were wiped
out. Counterfeit though the gar!Sl
joys of these spangled temples were
he perceived that deep under the gilt
surface they offered saving and appo
site balm and satisfaction to the rest
less human heart. Here at least was
the husk of romance. the empty but
shining caSque Of chivalry. the breath
catching though safe guarded dip and
flight Of adventure. the magic CARPET
that transports you to the realms oi
fairyand. though its journey be
through but few poor yards of space
He no longer saw a rabble. but his
brothers seeking the ideal. There was
no magic of poesy here or of art, but
the glamour Of their imagination tur"
ed yellow calico into cloth Of gold and
the megaphones into the silver irum
pets of joys heralds.
/ Almost humbled, Blinker rolled ur
the shirt sleeves of his mind and joined
the idealists.
You are the lady doctor" he said to
Florence. How shall we so about
doing this jolly conglomeration Of fairy
tales incorporated?"
I'VE will begin there" said the prin'
cess, pointing to fun pagoda or the
edge of the sea. land we will take
them all in. one by one"
They caught the o'clock returning
boat and sat. filed with pleasant IA
tigue, against the rail in the bow lis
tening to the Italians fiddle and harp