Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-12
Johns Letter.

We lately took midday stroll through
Cupid's garden within the four square
walls of the "Corner Store" It was
just as We expected and foresaw. Didn't
we tell you how it would be when the
spring and summer styles burst into
bloom? Didn't we furnish you with the
information that 1t would be "Bower
of Beauty? "Jess So" IT'S, and just
bit bewildering. We shall have to
stroll some more before We can decide
upon the proper and becoming hat for
our "girl." Shall have to take her
along. No doubt she could decide
quicker than lightning. The average
male intellect is slower and more ponder
GUS or cumbersome, and is more subject
to confusion in the bewildering mazes
of q woman's hat shape.
Flowers for adornment seem to have
taken the place of dead birds. That Is
as it should be. Even in our palmiest
days we should turn from the dead
birded hat to the bare headed girl-color
of hair immaterial-as the more sensibly
adorned.
1t is within the range of possibility
that the male intellect might be in such
a condition and the male heart might be
in such a state of fermentation that We
wouldn't give darn for the style of the
hat and its adornings. Dead birds and
artificial flowers cut no ice with him, so
to speak, when in this fix. If it be a
species of insanity it is hereditary. 1t
has broken out in spots, here and there,
all along the ages, ever since Adam kiss
ed Eve over the garden wall. (Yum,
yumD
We'll, we'll, we have struck strain
this time sure. 1t is a dull, gloomy,
misty, mostly May day, and we feel like
striking something. We have struck
not for higher pay but for shorter hours.
o, this spring weakness! Nay, it is
more than that. 1t is the weakness
that comes of age, no doubt: Probably
it is one of "Dobson's Warrington
similar. The way the story goes Death
came to Dobson in the prime of life and
they had some talk together, and finally
Death agreed to let him off till after
three sufficient warnings.
"But while he viewed his wealth increase,
While thus along life's dusty road
The beaten track content he trod,-
Old Time, whose haste no mortal spares.
Uncalled, unheeded, unawaree,
Brought on his eightieth year.
And now, one night, In musing mood,
As all alone he safe,
The unwelcome messenger OF fate
Once more before him stood.
Halt killed with anger and surprise,
so soon returned? Old Dobson cries.
80 soon, dye call IT.? Death replies:
Surely. my friend. you're but In jest:
Since was here before
IT'S six. and.thirty years at least
And you are now fourscore.'
$50 much the worse!' The clown rejoined;
To spare the aged would be kind:
Resides, you promised me three warnings.
Which have looked for nights and mornings
Il know cries Death, that at the best,
seldom am welcome guest;
Rut don't be captious, friend, at least;
little thought you'd still be able
To stump about your farm and stable.
Your years have run to great length;
wish you joy, though. Of your strength.
'HoldI' says the farmer. mot 80 fast;
hsY9 Se s9eas %onr Death spss
However, you still keep your eyes;
And sure, TO see ones loves and friends.
For legs and arms would make amends
Perhaps says Dobson, 80 1t might;
But latterly I've lost my sight
This is shocking story, faith;
Yet there's some comfort STILL says Death:
Each strives your sadness to amuse:
I warrant you hear all the news
There's nome cries he, 'and II there were,
I'm grown 80 deaf could not hear
Nay, there the spectre stern rejoined,
these are unreasonable yearnings:
If you are lame and deaf and blind,
You've had your three sufficient warnings:
So come along; no more We'll part
He said, and touched him with his dart:
And now old Dobson, turning pale.
Yields to his fate-so ends my tale"
Well, we are neither deaf nor blind
and we can hobble round some, and yet
we have had warnings enough to satisfy
the most skeptical if they have not been
Hobsons warnings. Doubtless the
generality of mankind greatly prefer,
were it left to them, to pass without
glimpse of the specter and with none of
Hobson's warnings nor any other. A
quick coming-a swift ending-no time
to say "Good bye! See you later" An
ideal proposition.