Year: 1877

there is as much OF human nature In them
as can be found in any of the less promis-
ing paths of our thorny journey. They may
escape the mothers spank and the fathers
birch to degree that is not common among
the less favored who drudge for bread from
infancy, but they will be boys after all, and
the bending of the twig little more or
less tells its story in the full stature of man.
hood.


Mr.. Bennett loved and wooed just as do
other men who realize that it is not good
to be alone in life, and being conspicuous
characteristic owner of the most valuable
newspaper property in the country; the
winner of various yacht races; the hero of
the last walking match, and princely
good fellow in his own way-he could not
escape journalistic criticism even in his
walks and talks by moonlight alone. He
loved Miss May, highly accomplished
and most estimable lady, and there was
nothing to startle the world of fashion or
of business in the fact that Miss May loved
him and consented to be his wife. How
the engagement got out to the public is
not worth asking about. The Bohemian
as reporters are frequently called
is everywhere-in the parlors where love
songs are sung; in the kitchen where the
household gossip is retailed; in the streets
were the gallant displays his arts, and. in
the romantic moon-mellowed grove where
plghted VOWS are whispered, and mutual
love has no hiding place for those who are
the envied of the earth. 1t was the mis-
fortune of Mr. Bennett and Miss May to be
distinguished above the commonalty, and
they had to pay its severe penalty. Their
betrOthal crept out into the public jour.
mails, and thenceforth the Bohemian has
never wanted for story with which to en-
bellIsh his contributions The time, place
and manner of the wedding have pointed
scores of letters and kilograms, and the
bridal robes have been described a dozen
times by copious drafts upon the boundless
imaginations of correspondents. But Mr..
Bennett and Miss May are only mortals
and they are not free from the infrmities
of the race. While they love and engage
like other people, they have angry passions
much after the endowments of man and
womankind in general, and there is no law
statutory, fundamental or moral, that pre-
vents them from loving and quarreling
joining and parting, hating and forgiving
just as other folks do from day to-day with
out the world taking note of it at all. They
chose to be betrothed and then they chose
TO be unbetrothed, and there the matte
would have ended under ordinary circuin
stances even with them. A few sparklin;
paragraphs would have told the Who'll,
story, and the affair would be forgotten il
the next romance that society shall offer t.
gratify the appetite for social small chat
But they do not seem to have dissevercC
themselves in the usual way. Instead O
agreeing to go each according to his or he
inclinations, the heart bruises were eX
hibited in select circles of sympathizin
friends by one or both Of the disenthralle,
pair, and insatats scandal came to fee,
upon the thoughtlcss drippings of frette'
pride. Dame Rumor peered into the club
to catch the diSjoined offerings of the cup
and mould them into playthngs for til
envious. Then came stawart brother t
aggravate the sisters wounds that h
doubtless meant to heal, and an unromar


tic street encounter, with the unpoetic;


rawhide to give zest to the story, mad


wooing and whaling the theme for ever


reporter to flash throughout the land, an


for every drawing-room and coal-hole circ
S to discuss the names Of Bennett and Ma,


Foolish courtships are pardonable since :


many are nothing else, and foolish 10,


quarrels do well for poetry where the XII


of forgiveness gives lustre to song; b.


they jumble harshly with the crack of IL


raw-hide and the prurient bent of the r
e porters's pen: and the indignant broth,


would have proved his worthiness of
beloved sister, had he not made wooing ar
d whaling household words to make memo


usurp the place where forgetfulness shou


have been enthroned.