Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-28

parenUy he considered them all to be
reprobates, for he spoke o. them in no
measured terms and denounced their
profession as an unhallowed calling.
Carlo was the more panied by the at
tack, because the preacher was evil
IDENTIFY a man of great earnestness, a
good. upright, honest man, not a mere
denouncer. It vas hard, too, to have
his brief respite from work disturbed
and spoiled by so untimely an assault
He tried not TO listen, but the mere
desire not to hear made It impossible
for him to lose himself in other
thoughts, and whether he would or
not. the words fell upon his ear.
my brethren" continued the
preacher, Il look at the hoard pgs in
your town, and see how, even in this
solemn time OF Lent, the world seeks
to ensnare you. see that. not con
tent with the usual number Of the
aters, another must be opened for the
performance Of operas. and / fear
that you may be tempted, perhaps, to
snatch at a passing pleasure. Let me
urge you 10 Withstand the temptation;
let me implore you, as you value the
health of your own souls, to shun
this false and insnaring pleasure. the
influence of which must be harmful
may be deadly. Most truly, most
wisely do we sing the words:
christian, dost thou see them
On the holy ground
How the troops Of Mildan
Prowl and prowl aroundT'
Carlo was for the moment so much
tlckled by the implied comparison be
tween the wandering troupe OF Mer-
limo and the prowling troops of Mid
| ian, that he had some difficulty in
keeping his countenance. He did not
dare to look at Sardoni: but, taking
up a book, read The rest of the hymn,
rejecting sadly that even the much
abused members Of the "unhallowed
calling" did sometimes try their best
| TO overcome BY the merit of the
Holy Cross" The attack grieved
J him IL seemed like the embodiment OF
the cause which had separated him
| from Francesca. He had learned
moreover, to love his profession; he
| believed in II with all his heart; he
knew that Il need no more be an un
hallowed calling than the calling OF
the poet, or the painter. or the scnlp-
tor. or the novelist. This preacher
clearly failed to understand the high
EST meaning OF art--he had no sense
of the artistic side OF life; neither had
he any sense OF humor, or he would
Instantly have perceived the ludi
crous turn which might be given "a
his application of the troops Of Mid
IAN"
This particular Midianite began &c
wonder whether II he from the stage
had begged people to shuii the church
| and 10 refrain from giving at the of
rertory, the preacher would not have
denounced him as a man who will
fully robbed another of his daily
| bread He went on to picture to him
self the immediate consequences of
any marked falling off In the atten
| dance at the theater; he though: OF
| the heavy loss to Merlino, the severe
trial 70 his temper, the consequent
misery and suffering of all about him
| the possible effect on Anita, Then
he went on 10 generalities, and tried
10 imagine the effect upon art II the
best and purest followed the preach
er's advice aud went nU more to the
| theater. Tie saw how the good. and
the elevatinE. aud the lofty in the
drama would perforce fail for lack OF
support and how the only thing that
would pay would he that which pan
| dered To the lowest and the vilest
| tastes. He felt that the members OF
! his profession, in such state of
| things. would be placed In grave
dilemma unfit for any other calling,
they would be forced either to let
their talents rust unused, and 10 sink
into poverty and distress, or 10 debase
themselves by taking work which
they knew 10 be unworthy Of them
He would have liked TO put such a
case 10 the preacher and he felt Gu.
/ riuus 10 see what sort of n man he
was. but they were cite at the back
OF The church, ana an intervening
pillar hid the pulpit from view
! Feeling, somehow. that the sermon
had shut him out from the fellowship
which he expected To find in a church
and had made him an alien even in
/ the body TO which he rightfully he
louged, he made his way ont again
into the dark. dreary street, M which
the March wind blew gustily, A
sense of into'erable fatigue came over
him
what pace you are walking at.
Jack" he exclaimed One might
think YOU were blessed with the
| seyen.ieagued boots, aud were keeping
up WI h Sirocco'"
Sardoni modified his pace: aud
Carlo glancing at him saw an express
sion about his mouth which BODIED no
good
I'm sorry We came In for that ser,
mon. he said
Well at any rate it will serve TO
show you what British prejudice isl
said SardonL speaking more fiercely
than the occasion seemed to warrant
Il don't .now what effect II will have
AS o ,heater-going, but | know that l