Chicago daily tribune. [volume], October 19, 1873, Page 11, Image 11

About Chicago daily tribune. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1872-1963

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THE WORKING-GIRL QUESTION.
Additional Views Thereupon.
Incompetence of Sorvnnt««TVliy fllrK i
Aro Unwilling’to P<» IBouuoivorlt*
To the Editor if The Chicago Tribune: *
Bin: The discussion between tho sowlng-glrls <
and tlioir opponents has been of Interest to a j
largo class of readers, to whom tho apparently- (
trivial question at issue la one of Importance, ,
Could tho matter ho satltfaclonly arranged, It i
Would obviato a thousand dlillcultlos that besot
housekeepers and heads of families generally. j
.Space will not permit recapitulation,of tho
Vexed question, How to got our housework
done, even if it wore necessary, which it Is not. i
Every duo knows from bitter experience what '
a succession of defeats has been suffered
at the hands of foreign and homo manufacture
iucompotoucy, yolopt servants. Tho man who
swears has a unique and original vocabulary of
oaths sacrod to occasions whou an au overdone
roast or scorched soap has spoiled his dinner,
or his shirt-front is limp, or tho furnace is flro
loss on a freezing day, or who invites a friend
homo to dinner while his wife Is in tho country,
and duds, upon his arrival homo, hospitably in
tent, that Cook has not returned from her day
out, and ho is obliged to raid ou tho nearest
grocery for tho frugal concomitants' of a supper
composed of crackers and choose; while the
man who docs not swear puts on a countenance
of long-drawn-out acerbity, looks abused, refers
to good old days, his mother, aud kindred
pleasing subjects, till his wife, who is not equal
to tho multitudinous cares of our fussy regime,
fools like a demoralized sage-brush.
As for women, tho sowing-girl was quite right
whou she asserted that oil laches talked about
was tho failings of thoir servants. Thoir In
competency and general unfitness for tho posi
tion is tho staple of conversation botwcouhouso
keepers, os tlioir labor is tho staple of our com
fort or discomfort in proportion us it is skilled
or unskilled. The fact exists that there
Is a growing demand lor a hotter
class of house-servants ; that people
are willing to pay a reasonable, oven
liberal, price for such servants; aud that tho
Supply is inadequate,~in fact, docs not exist
except in rare instances. It is an equally patent
fact that other fields of labor, loss healthful
and poorer paid, aro overcrowded.
Various reasons havo been assigned for this
lamentable state of things, but nono havens
yet given tho true solution of tho problem.
It is not that girls are not strong enough, nor
that they ore unwilling to do housework,—for
every one of tho hard-worked army of working
women, from teachers, bookkeepers, and
saleswomen, down to tho myriads
of female employes that pour out of tho work
rooms of stores, mllliuoiy-shopo, and manufac
turing establishments of all kinds, look forward
to the time when these very cares and labors,
borne and performed for tho coming man. will
bo an open door from slavery to freedom. They
each imagine homes in littlo cottages, where
they shall do nil this menial work, or a share of
it, while John earns his sl2 or $25 per week, as
& littlo paradise | and, with tho idealizing
faculty so strong in their sox, gloss over tho
homely belongings of tho cheap, dingy cottage,
—John included,—till it seems a very temple
whero they may offer sacrifice to tho household
Blancs.
And yet these very girls, who are willing to
labor with their hands, sacrifice every prospect
of comfort and luxury, contend with poverty
aud its thousand ills, under certain circum
stances, will not accept a situation in.any capac
ity, as a house-servant, in tho most elegantly
appointed palace in the city. This dislike, not
to housework, but house-service, is not au in
dividual whim, but exists among all women who
&ro obliged to earn their living, from tho poor
est day-laborer, who tries to educate her daugh
ter for a different work, to tho reduced gentle
woman who fags her life out in a boarding
house tread-null to save hors from a like ca
lamity.
'Women are not altogether idiots, though
classed with thorn politically ; and it is safe to
tay that, when their heads and hearts are so sot
upon a given point, they will sacrifice thoir ease,
and even work for it, —neither of which women
like to do naturally,—there is reason in and
for it.
To tho unthinking mind it is incomprehensi
ble, and to the masculine understanding it is
one of the ways that are dark of a sex that are
conundrums to men.
Suppose “Paterfamilias” and others of his
class stop a few moments from contemplation of
their elegant homos, in which tho work can ho
eo easily and comfortably done, and con
sider that a largo proportion of these
girls whom they would place there
have been os carefully roared and educated as
bis ow*n: that, in many instances, they wore not
born in thoir present pooßiuu, but Imvn boon
placed there by tho failure of some Brobding
nngian enterprise in which thoir fathers were in
terested; some panic of ’57 or ’7B, or other reason
than want of breeding or culture on their part.
Then let him look at tho associates which any
duo of those bookkeepers, clerks, seamstresses,
would bavo among men, if she wont into his
basement as a servant. Wimt kind of men are
employed as gardeners, coachmen, mou-of-all
work?
What man occupied as clerk, or in correspond
ing capacity, would think it tho thing to ask
such a girl to any place of amusement; or what
girl so employed could accept with with 7 o’clock
ninners ? What son of Dives docs not consider
All pi city girls employed in bis mother’s houte
as legitimate objects upon which to prey; or who
will not take advantage of tho constant associa
tion which domestic service renders necessary to
undermine virtue, oven so humbly enshrined as
in tho bosom of a servant ? When wo see—as
wo all must—that tho day has gone by when men
did not consider it a disgrace to marry tho
“help” of thoir mothers, wo can boo tho real
reason of tho deep-seated prejudice against
house-service.
It is not tho fault of women, but men, who
ire tho aggressive or active party. They seek.
Women can do nothing but wait; and, so long
ah this is tho existing state of things, they will
wait in tho places where men look for wives.
Bo long as they are valued for complexions,
figuics, dainty feet, and white hands, women
will strain every nerve to possess those qualifi
cations. No amount of argument, logic, or
wheedling will move them, so long as ovory act
of men’s lives contradicts tlioir words.
Tho gentler sox possesses littlo will, but & vast
amount of won't; aud they fool rather than
reason, as a class. They will not, or o&imot,
argue the point with men; but fall <back upon a
reserve of stubborn resistance, aud resolve to
starve in what they consider a hopeful position,
rather than ho comfortable in a hopeless one.
It is true that marriage is tho general aim of
women; and, as custom debars her from making
advances, the only other alternative is to attract
the other party. To accomplish this, they must
look pretty, and place themselves in a position
to he seen. If all this fails, she cau only write
on her tombstone, She hath done what the could.
Whether this is a right state of things is not
to be considered hero. It exists, aud must bo
dealt with as an existing fact. It is not to ho
talked away, like a wort in olden times, and ig
noring it will do no good. It Is only by a fair go
ing through tho whole question, and putting tho
responsibility whore it belongs, that anything
approaching harmony can bo evolved from tbo
present chaos. When men will bo wise enough
to cnanr women for other things than merely
physical development, women will aim to ac
complish more than ft fine appearance. Until
then, it is woll enough to remember tho law of
demand and supply; and that ills only on rare
occasions that warming-pans soil to good advan
tage in a hot climato. Philip Hay.
plothera «U Fault—lQonseivorlc Not
« Disgustingly Vile.”
7*o the Editor of The Chicago Tribune:
Sir : Permit one who has passed more than
three-scoro years, and soon life in its varied as
pects, to say a few words upon a subject which
has lately boon agitated In your paper i tho work
lug-girl quofetion. No mother who is not defi
cient in correct ideas of tho duties and responsi
bilities of woman will nogloat to have her daugh
ters Instructed in tho multifarious arts of
housekeeping, that they may bo fitted to direct
the affairs of their household, even if it is not
necessary that they should perform Its service
with their own hands, In this changeful world,
nouo can toll what may bo tho destiny of their
children, though roared in aflluonco with tondor
eet care. Prepare them to moot adverse
circumstances calmly and bravely. Tho
groat fault, I apprehend, lies with tbo
mothers who havo trained their daughters to
dosplso household duties as something degrad
ing and beneath them; and, of course, they
never seek to understand their requirements,
and are thus deficient in one of tho most im
portant branches of their education. Unless
they have a knowledge of what is necessary to
good and fiucoosßful housekeeping, how can
they direct those in thoir employ, and know
when tlioir work is woll done, or whether they
aro ovortnakod ?
If fortuuo should frown, and they bo called to
perform those, services which one writer calls
“ disgustingly vile,” how badly, and with what
an ill grace, they will bo performed. I leave for
those to Judge who havo witnessed those things,
as many have.
There is I ruth In the statement that the army
of sowing-girls, to ala go extent, would be in
omnipotent help in household-labor. And why ?
Because they have never been taught properly
In (hat department, 3‘ortons who become ac
customed to any employment from childhood to
inalnro ago, ami learn to poiform It skilfully
and well, gduornlly love U hotter than one in
which they engage hi riper years; nud are more
successful in it. more readily adapting them
selves to its requirements.
Now, Mr. Editor, about this “disgustingly
tUo ” housework. No honest labor, done well;
and in the right spirit, cau appropriately hear
that appellation. Nor Is it at all accessary
that one who has to do “ dish
washing, washing creasy pots and pans,
scrubbing lloors, ana blacking stoves,” should
find It “ disgustingly vile,” if she lit herself for
It by donning a largo apron to protect tier dross,
and piiminghor sleeves up out of tho way. Tbo
apron can bo quickly removed, and the bauds
washed; and, though they may not remain
quite as white and delicate, vet they aro clean,
and hands wore made for houcst labor, and I
consider it nn honor for any lady to havo hands
which show that they havo done something use
ful in life. 'What wore wo made and scut into
this world for, bv the good Pother of all. if not
to do some good In it. that it may bo Loiter in
some way for our having lived ?
Lot each one strivo to ho useful in the place
and vocation for which ho or she in beat fitted, and
call no labor, well aud properly performed,
“disgustingly vile.”
1 acknowledge I fail to sco tho necessity of this
“ dreadful demoralization of dirt ” in a well-kept
kitchen, or that it is “simply an impossibility”
to do housework and bo clean. I think I should
shrink from that “scant living” prepared whero
dirt reigned supremo, and put my own shoulders
to tho wheel, to use a homely phrase (at tho
risk of some soil on tho outaido, in prefoicnco to
luring it inside), and lake hold of work certainly
healthy, in preioronce to that which is admitted
to bo otherwise. Perhaps there might ho a lack
of strength at first to do a largo amount of active
labor, but it would Improve by exercise; and
who can compute tho value of health and strength
but those who have boon deprived of them ? An
exalted station and tho wealth of tho Indies
would bo no compensation for their loss.
Bo long as women aro educated to look upon
1 ousehola-labor as menial aud degrading, so
long will thoy seek other avenues of employ
ment, and men will havo to boar with incompe
tent wives, and wasteful, slovenly servants,
though many of them, doubtless, will not under
stand tho couso of tho failure of thoir boyish
dreams of a happy homo.
“Wo want a different order of things, un
doubtedly." But bow is it to bo brought about?
is tho question. I confess, 1 know of no bolter
solution of tho problem than one found in a cer
tain ancient book, which says: “All tilings
whatsoever ye would tnat men should do to you,
do yo oven so to them,”—teaching us to treat
those in our employ as wo would wish them to
treat us were wo to exchange situations. It is
said, “la a multitude of counsel there is wis
dom.” 80, lot tho subject bo agitated.
Fannie.
An Industrial Home,
To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune .
8m: I see that some of tho girls do not fully
appreciate my article on “whntwo need.” A
littlo woman with a littlo heart, and a littlo
short-sighted as regards her future good, is in
dignant. In regard to “ Miranda Moans’ ” criti
cism, I would say to her, with a heart full of
gratitude, that, if the few words I dropped in
haste to tho editor havo mado a woman appear
as noble as a man, and one worthy to bo called
a brother, I fool quite pleased with.myself and
encouraged to write again, and trust I may
able to do so as a manly woman. I bog to dis
agree with my little fluttering sisters about
•‘Alpha” and “Humanity.” I verily ’boliovo
them to bo our very true friends, though, iu try
ing to befriend us, thoy havo not understood our
need. Good misapplied is often counted ns evil.
What wo need is moro work and higher wages.
How are wo to increase our wages ? By having
moro work. How are wo to got moro work, so
that ovoiy girl can got employment ? Only by
having an Industrial House, where all trades are
carried on subject to a woman’s baud. So long
as there is an overplus of girls, who cannot find
work at any price, that little girl with a littlo
heart cannot nave her $7 raised to $lO. Wo
cannot striko for higher wages, as do tho meu,
for our work is not systematized as is theirs.
Girls are like tho “ Jack of all trades ; ” If they
cannot find work in ono branch, thoy will turn
to another, and aro thus constantly changing,
which comes very natural for them, for thoy love
a change as woll as the siivor light that rules tho
night.. T hoo but ono object upon which those
littlo women would bestow their extra change
(should charity reduce their board-bill a little
below tho usual price), and that would ho a little
moro trimming on tho dress, alittlolonger plume
ou tho hat. Comfoits are a secondary matter to
our littlo show-maids. Well, what wo want is
bettor wages ; then use them for comfort, or for
show, as you please.
Onen an Industrial House, os above men
tioned, and, in loss than forty-eight hours, you
would havo SUU applicants,—those now without
employment, or working for wages under $1 per
day. Tliis would leave a demand for help to
outside employers, aud, as a matter of course,
increase outside wages to at least from $1.50 to
$2 per day, for every girl who could not got
over $1 per day, would prefer employment at
tho Industrial House, whore sho would havo
steady employment, without fear of discharge
whou tho busy season was over. And, again,
thoso most competent would got tho host wages,
which is not always tho case now, and wo would
havo a batter class of workers, as woll as some
thing to provoke or encourage enterprise among
tho girls. I do not know whore tho little women,
or any one else, could find in my first article
anything advocating tho reduction of wages,
since my entire object was to increase them.
Experience.
Views of a Scwing-Glrl.
To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune,
Sin: Bravo am I growing since yoa kindly
published my letter, and, with a good deal
leas of timidity, 1 venture to send you another.
Presuming thero are times in the experience
of overy one when a longing for aomo particular
quality not poseoisod by them ia decidedly posi
tive, no ono need bo startled out of their ordi
nary tranquil condition by tho announcement
that the writer came under that “spell" while
reading In The Sunday Tbiuvkb tho letter
signed “ Alpha."
And oh 1 how I longed for talent, even but
for an hour, so I might write just ono letter in
behalf of homeless working-girls, whoso every
word should glow with truth “so fiercely hot"
it would wither and bum out all aspirations in
the leader of tho Greek alphabet over again to
appear before tbo public as an opposorof what to
us sowing-girls seems merely a kind, brotherly
proposition,—“that! of a pleasant ‘Home*
for tho many homeless working-girls of Ibis'
city, whore they could buy their hoard, not beg*
it, at about tho actual cost,—thus enabling thorn
to lay up a triflo from their weekly income."
Many of tho working-girls havo homos, though
humble, still" sweet "to them, whore tuoy find
a warm welcome ou returning from their work,
and would scorn tho offer of any worldly charity.
Thoro arc others who havo no homos to go to
when their day's work is done, but who have to
rotum to tboir cheerless boarding-places, often
so bard to onduro ou account of many unpleas
ant things, to whom a pleasant “ Home " would
bo so acceptable.
“Alpha "says, “They are very indignant."
Yes, we ore indignant, and wo know of no justi
fying reason for his grout effort to convince the
public that tho suggestion of a “ Home " is en
tirely at variance with every idea of right and
policy. One would think, from bis articles, that
a “ Homo" for BUD or 4UO homeless working-girls
in Chicago would change all present relations
between them and tboir employers; in fact,
amount to a great revolution in tbo market of
woman's labor. If that is not an idea brought
from some very remote spot, I can imagine of
none that would bo.
Ho says, “ It seems, then, that tho shop-girl
will take for her labor whatever la offered, pro
vided it will furnish her a hare subsistence, and
is tho best her employer will do." No ono
among homeless ones could refuse doing that
very tiling, provided it was as muoh as she could
obtain elsewhere j 1 moan among homeless girls
who aro worthy and pure at heart, and who havo
a brigbthopo in that future when all work is
over, of rest and joy in Heaven.
His letter would seem to convoy tho Impression
that ho was very anxious to pave tho way so wo
sowing-girls could goully elide from tho occupa
tion In which wo are now engaged into that
of house-servants. If ho secs In that
calling so muoh attraction, lot tho dear man put
on a long apron and go forth a martyr in bobalf
of overworked wives. And, after a few mouths
I'HE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER la, 1873.
of washing, scrubbing, blacking stoves, Ac., if
bo brings back “glad tidings.” then wo girls,
who have no inclination that way at present,
will give the matter a sober thought.
In this connection 1 want to repeat to “Alpha”
a conversation I hoard between two mothers,
both being widows, each the possessor of a
bright, pretty girl, froth ladles, until the great
fire, wore independently situated, but aro now
working women, and spirited ones, too. They
wore conversing upon the subject of thoir
daughters by and by engaging, as they will h*vo
to, in some kind of work by which to support
themselves.
One said, “ I havo boon thinking seriously of
tho possibility of my own Jcsalo over being com
pelled by want to bccomo nn ordinary house
servant, nud endure tho ill-tronlmcut connected
with that position. And 1 would rather see tho
rose-tint of tho cheek whiten, tho love-light of
tho eye fade awav, tho sweet tone of the voice
bo hushed, the glad, beating heart cease forever,
and tho loved form at rest in Its casket, given
back to Mother Earth.”
Tho natural response was given, “So would
I.” While listening I wondered if there was a
father or mother in Chicago who, whllo gazing
into tho eyes of thoir loved child, would doro
say otherwise.
it matters not what they may flay of some
other mother's darling, when tho cup is placed
to thoir own lips, and they are bid to drink, how
quickly it becomes unbearably bitter.
In “Alpha’s” unusual zeal to prove his idea, lie
portrays a “name,” and an incident accompany
ing It, wherein Martha, tho sowing-girl, turns
Interviewer (ranch at variance with her modes*
Inclination), and tho result to his mind is most
conclusive. May I ask why tho necessity of his
selecting a time in business-affairs when a dark
pall seems to envelop alike rich and poor ? Why
not take tho usual healthy condition of business,
and upon that base his figures ? Would it not
be moro reasonable ? Even his presentation of
tho matter would scorn on excellent argument
why homeless working-girls should havo a
“Home” at a price so they could save some
money to help carry tticxu through tho depressed
times of a “ panic.”
• Mr. Editor, wo ghls have colored no com-
J Joint ngaimt tho wages our -employers aro' p.ay
ng us, unci wo do net believe thoy aro heat Boss;
and. though “ Alpha’s ” dyspeptical production,
Old Potorldn,” may occasionally bo found, wo
shall live on, hoping to find in the world, as
Garnett B. Freeman says, in her beautiful and
truthful letter, sho haa’found, much of Uimluoan
nud justice, if not generosity. Yours respect
fully. Martua.
Chicago, Oct. 15, 1873,
Tlio “XBomo” Question.
To the Editor of The Chicago I'ributie
Sm: It seems to mo that wo aro getting off
tho track about this matter. It was first started
with tho idea of establishing Homes whore work--
ing-girls could obtain board, Ac., at such rates
as should enable them to live with somo degree
of comfort on tho small wagos thoy cam. Now,
very little of tho correspondence so abundantly
lavished on you is tending to accomplish this
end, and I think somo moro dofiniko action
needs to ho taken in the matter. I think it will
bo generally admitted that tho object in view is
desirable and legitimate; that many women pre
fer to do other than housework, and that thoy
have a right to such preference, and should ' ho
helped to carry out thoir wishes; and that tho
question of doing housework should ho laid asido
altogether, or considered under another hood
and with a totally different object. Lot somo
ono toll us how best to bring about our wish,
and then lot us sot to and do it. If I had money,
I would at onco start such a Homo and sob tho
example; but, alas! ray lot has boon teat of tho
monkey’s,—moro hicks than half-pence,—and
so I cannot do ao much. Gold and siivor
I havo nono; but. if I con help in any
way by giving a portion of time, or by work of
my head or hands, I for ono will cheerfully give
it. Lot those who aro willing got together and
determine what to do, and doit; and then tho
question of woman’s proper work may safely bo
loft to auswor itself, if it plcasos. Respectfully,
m Benedict.
AUTUMN.
Tho grasses aro dry, and brown, and tall,
Ami curlier now tho shadows fall
After tbo qulot day;
Aud tho mist Huh still
On tbo distant hill,
And Bummer has passed away.
Aud (ho meadows aro sore
In tho fulling year,
Aud the Btubbic-nchls aro bare;
Aud out of my heart
Tho Joys depart,
And the sunlight that was there.
Tor Bummer-friends and Summcr-joyM
The Autumn's chilling blast destroys
Ami the falling leaves,
Aud the garnered sheaves,
And tbo empty, desolate fields,
Ami the cricket's song,
So BhriU aud utrong,
Each weary recollection yields.
Aud my heart's oppressed
With a unrest;
Aud (he thoughts of long ago,
When bleak wiuds coll
Aud do id loaves fall,
Como to mo ere I kuow.
Charles Nonna Gregory,
FASHION'S.
From the Xeto York Evening Hail.
Jot has secured its old plnco m fashionable
favor.
—Never before has lace boon so much worn as
now.
—Gamers hair lace is tho latest novelty in
trimmings.
—Tho “Coronet” and tho “ Caftan” aro tho
newest things in bonnets.
—Tho “ Directoiro basque ” is ono of tho new
est inventions in ladies’ gatmonts.
—Pretty and coquettish breakfast-caps aro
much worn both by marriod aud unmarried young
ladies.
—A new French furniture-chintz is ornA
moniod with scenes from “La Fiilo do Madamo
Augot.”
—Tho “ Persian ” colors oro very much in
vogue just now; thoy are very rich and very ex
pensive.
—Bows of China crapo, in pale colors, orna
mented with Valenciennes medallions, aro much
worn iu tho hair.
—Tho most stylish drosses this season will bo
as plain as possible. Black silk will be tho fo
yor.te material fer street wear.
—Some few gentlemen, whose tasto in dress is
for the gaudy, but not neat, aro wearing light
silk waistcoats for full dross.
—ln Paris, smooth hnir is tho fashion, al
though somo ladies destroy tho hoauty of tho
now arrangement by pasting “cats’-paws” ou
oithorsido of tho faco.
—Worth’s latest Dolmans aro of soft bluo
cloth, nearly covered with braiding, trimmed
with ostrich feathers, and lined with silk
plush.
—Young ladies who sigh after high-backed
siivor combs need only to hunt among thoir
grandmothers’ relics to find “just the thing.”
—Cut steel has superseded oxidized silver for
bolt-bucklcs, chatelaines, and tho liko. Small
jewelry of this material is also coming into fash
ion again.
—Tho most gaudy garments will bo worn in
the house this winter, such as sleeveless Jackets
of scarlet cloth, embroidered in Nile-green, gray,
and violet.
—lt is considered “ tho thing ” to wear a small
feather stuck iu tho hat-band; but there’s no
necessity of wearing half a bird, as'somo follows
-dti?
. .Necklaces will bo much worn this winter. A
new Btylo in of square blocks of gold, onamolod
with 'Pompeiian designs on tbo six sides, ami
joined by eix light chains.
—Tho stvlos in ladies' drosshave now got back
as far aa tbo days cf Catherine do Mediois. At
tbiß rato wo shall hoou have roacbod tho stylos
prevalent in tbo Garden of Eden.
—Tbo now color predicted to sweep everything
boforo it this winter is as yet unnamed. It is
described aa looking like spoiled preserves, and
will be worn in polonaises over black silk.
—Young ladies who use tho Urobdlgnaglan
fans now in vogue should bo careful to fan
themselves with each hand alternately lost ono
arm should assume a uizo quite out of proportion
to tho other.
—The newest thing In drosses is the “ suit of
armor," made of steel-gray silk, black velvet,
and stool ornaments. Tbo jacket of black velvet
is perfectly coveted with finely-cut steel stars,
tho overskirt bus a heavy fringe of stool pen*
dunts, and a tubiior of steel ornaments runs
down tbo front. Tbo bat la a small Turkish tur
ban with a Htoulo aigrette.
—Tho newly-engaged couples now attract all
tho attention of tho avenue. Apropos of the
present stylo of walking adopted by tho young
people, tho lady’s cheek resting lovingly on tho
padding of her lover's manly shoulder, a friend
says that being engaged spoils more coats with
Lubiu’a powder than tbo Poston ever did, and
ho Isn’t going to stand it much longer.
—A lady in Now York says sho docs not want
to bo lectured about extravagance, when, to bur
knowledge, tbo young man of tbo period brings
homo bills of if HO for neckties, and $260
for a few pairs cf ivory and oxidized buttons,
and a night-gown of bluo India silk, puffed and
rutiled m sinful fashion, fur SOO, and half a
dozen of raw silk underwear, at 618 tbo set. and
llalbriggau socks for $2.70 a pair, and a dozen
lawn lies for $7 apiece.
A VISION OF COMMUNISM.
A Grotcsauc.
From the CornhiU Magazine,
“ It will come.
“ Already wo have neon tho handwriting on tho
wall. Infatuated governments, self-seeking
officials, fraudulent rnpitalists, thoy may put off
tho day of reckoning *« which tho whole social
fabric shall totter and crumble away, and men
wonder that such a hollow thing should havo
stood so long; but tho day must como.
“ Aye 1 Put when ? How many ages of ig
norance and injustice must first pass over ua ?
How man/ thousands perish of want ? and how
many llvo out n life littlo bettor than a prolong
ed doalh-Blnigglo ? ” :
Thi* was my midnight reverie. Mechanically
I took up a newspaper; but it was one symptom
of the attack of Communisra-on-tho-brain under
which I was laboring that, look where I would
down those columns, I saw nothing but those
sickening paragraphs giving an account of tho
amount of destitution at present existing in
London, and always sido by side with those, to
mo just as sickening, stating that tho lato So
aud-So'u will had boon proved, aud tho personal
ty sworn under £2,000,0001 Did I turn to tho
Law Courts, I was suro to mark how, in ono,
some 'wretched street Arab had been sentenced
to six months for potty larcouoy, in onothor, the
Honorable bankrupt’s liabilities had boon laid at
£50,000, no ousels, bankrupt’discharged. 8a
much for “ tho times” aud thole equity, “ Aud
still meu can wonder at tho discontent, and still
tho cry goes up In vain, and will, till tho mill
ions shall foci thoir strength and lay hands on
all thoso rights, so long, so skillfully monopo
lized by the units.
"But tho moans I How many moro French
revolutions, and blunders, and massacres ? How
many victims must fall to ignorance, and tyran
ny, and prejudice? How much heroism bo
wasted oh both sides ore Communism becomo
more than a moro name,—a nightmare to somo,
a day-dronm to others ? Only our children's
children's children will know this I”
“ I beg your pardon,” sold a voice at my
elbow. .
Starting, for I had thought myaolf alono in'ray
study, I turned, and saw a stranger. Ho was
clad in what 1 will call a toga, and carried what
I will call a waud. (But, on tho bock and in tho
hand of a common church-warden, wo should call
tho first “ cassock,” and tho second, “ poker.”)
“ Sir!" I uttered, amazed.
“ You woro holding forth on tho subject so
many prate about, so few understand—Commun
ism. Do you moan to say that you belong to tho
few who havo its principles really at heart ?”
“ lam ono of thoso unfortunate persons,”!
replied dospoudingly. “ Who and whal are you ?
Have you como hither to mock mo as a political
dreamer of droarna ?”
“ Nothing of tbo sort; I como from a content
ed city; a city of liberty, equality, aud fraterni
ty. If you like, 1 will take you to see your ideal
realized—comfort for tho million, in a laud
whore all go shares iu happiaos.”
I had read Dnnto, “ Faust,” and “ Tho Com
ing Race.” I saw the offering to initiate me into
tho mysteries of tho supernatural.
“ Are you Virgil ?” 1 asked, sorrowfully, and
shaking my head. “If so, you won’t do for
mo. X never trouble my head moro than I can
holp about tho arrangements of Paradise. Pur
gatory, or Pandemonium. Aco you Mopmsto
pholos ? If so, I shan’t do for you. lam &
philanthropist, and you cannot tempt mo. Do
you como from tho vrUYa? Can Vril, which
may very likely never be discovered after all.
tako off ono jot from tho social misery of 1878 ?’’
“I've no connection with tho parties,” he
replied, dryly j “ I’m a plain nineteenth-century
man, and here’s my card—lsotea, lato Man
ager of tho Grand Communist Company, unlim
ited.”
“ Late,'* I repeated. “Which is defunct, you
or the Commune ?’’
“Oh, neither; tho manager, not the man, is
no more—now the Commune is self-supporting
at last.”
“ But where is your State ?”
“Alii Our company don’t advertise. Woro
tho Commune thrown open to tho public, rogues
from tho opposite political party would got in,
and—such is their venomous hatred for tho prin
ciples of equality and justice—move heaven and
earth to sow discord among us, undermine our
system, and bring about its min. In you. blind,
backward, prejudiced though you are, 1 see au
honest, thorough-going lovolor. Wo have no ob
jections to such us you inspecting our establish
ment.”
“ Have yon had many visitors ?"
“ None. Wo have just got our State into pood
working order, and, in consideration of my ser
vices as manager, 1 am officially selected to show
tho Commune to such outsiders as I find worthy.;
You are tho first 1 have found.”
Tho very first I My heart hounded. I thought
of tho leaders 1 would write, tho pamphlets, the
essays. What a treasure 1 should bo to all tho
editors iu London.
“ Will you venture?” he asked.
“ That 1 will,” said 1 solemnly, clasping his
offered palm.
Ho took hold of my arm, saying, “Tho faro
for the trip is £lO, aud there ore no extra foes.”
Iliad nerved myself for a strange and fear
ful voyage. 1 was prepared to enc»untor murky
shades ami Stygian rivers, to bo shot down tbo
shaft of a mine, or wafted aloft on an aerial
excursion to tho moon, like tbo adventurers in
“Bahil and Bijou.” Groat woe my surprise, and.
deep my secret disappointment, when my guide
took mo in a common cab to a railway station,
and thouco into a train, with nothing remarka
ble about it except that we wore tho only pas
sengers.
Then I think I must have slept. When I
roused myself it was broad day. Wo wore pass
ing through a line open country. There, oppo
site mo, sat my guide, smoking a cigar with a
self-complacent, impassible air.
“ Toll mo, Xbotes,” I began by-and-by. “how
you succeeded In solving tbo social problem that
puzzles our iGugest-headod statesmen ?”
“ Puzzles them? Stuffl” bo replied. “ When
tho rogues lay their long heads together, bo suro
it’s not to flud out how to solvo the question,
but how to make it insolvahlo.. But fur their
lies and tricks you mighthavo kept pace with ns.
Communism, as you and they understand it, is a
very old story—mere boy’s play. Why, wo began
it twenty years ago, when wo started our Btato.
Started with Simple Communism."
“Is there, then,” 1* asked mildly, “ such a
thing as compound Communism ?”
“ That's tho very point I'm coming to. As
for tho littlo question of Labor vorsuu Capita],
it’s boon long settled among us; but tboro you
arc, still bickering about such simple affairs as
the distribution of land, stock, and so forth.
Why, wo look on private property, abolished by
us twenty years ago, as you may on negro slavery,
tho Com laws, and other exploded abuses.”
“ Twenty years of perfect Communism " I ex
claimed, rapturously.
“Not so fast. Wo had made a beginning,
learnt our ABO, and that waslill. In point of
fact tbo difference it made was slight. The more
stringent tho laws, tho more certain they were
to bo broken. Men kept making fortunes under
tbo rose, and tboro was no stopping bauds from
giving or hands from taking. Comfort and
misery seemed nearly as unevenly distributed as
ever. Some follows livod in clover, others died
in a ditch. Borne wore worshiped and Haltered,
others persecuted and trodden down. Evidently
tboro was a hitch in tho Commune,—a panic
spread among tho shareholder, and wo had a
rough job to weather tho crisis. But this llrst
experiment had opened some of our eyes to the
stumbling stone—tho root of tho evil.
“ And whore did you hud that it lay ? M
“ In Nature.”
“ Ah,” I sighed, “ in Original Sin."
“ Nothing of tho sort. In tho Iniquitous
Original Division of Personal Stock.”
“Eh?"
“ I'll make it plain to you In few words. There,
in our (State, all such private property as land,
money, and marketable commodities, was now
Knbllo, but on monopolies of Nature’s gifts not
10 slightest check was laid. Tho anomaly's
monstrous when you see it."
“ Well,” said I, “but unfortunately (ho gifts
of Nature are not things you can put into a com
mon nurse in which every one is to go shares.”
X spoke jestingly, but Isotos looked perfectly
serious, and was about to explain, when tho train
drew up at a station.
“ Hero wo are.” said ho, “ lot the Commune
speak for itself.”
An wo walked down from the station to a largo
thrlving-lookiug city, he observed, “ I have
sketched out your day. so that you shall not
waste time. First, i’ll take you round tho
town, just stopping to cast a glance at the col
leges, halls, and public buildings. Thou you
shall come to my houso, dine with mo, and, in
tho evening. I’ll tako you to a private hall. 1
want you thus to get a general notion of our
social system, and wo can take the details to*
morrow.
Wo began with the College. Of my first im*
presslons of tbo town I say nothing, limlltig
nothing to say. Tbo bouses wero all of medium
size, and fac-slmlloH of onob other. 1 was going
to make a note of tbo uuploaalug monotony of
tbo effect, but 1 observed tbo absence of dons
ami hovels such as disgrace our metropolis, uud
lolit pass.
Tbo Collego, a largo, symmetrical bnlldlug,
stood & llttto apart from the town. Tin vast
playgrounds wore swarming with youthful Com*
irmiilits. It was with some emotion that I
watched tbo sports of thoao boys. Litilo, proba
bly, did they rook of their privileges, birth in
this equitable realm, and on education free from
tbo dangers of our public colleges, those little
niouoicbios, with all monarchy’s abases in minia
ture—bullying for tbo weak, license for tbo
strong, flattery for tbo rich and tilled. Isotos
and 1 stood watching a cricket-match. Some of
tbo players, big, burly follows, seemed curiously
clumsy and stupid, tbo rest wore nimble and
skillful, but feeble and puny, and I thought tbo
gnrno lagged, Near mo, a youth of uncommonly
powerful build lay stretched lazily on tbo grass,
looking on. I accosted him, and asked when bo
was going to take bis innings.
“ 1 never play cricket,” bo replied. “ It’s bad
for mo. Can’t you boo bow uufortunatoly strong
lam? Fool my arm,”
“ Woll,” said X, “ with those muscles of yours.
I should hope you’d soon beat tbo awkward
squad yonder, and send tbo ball flying well over
tbo College roof.”
As I spake, Isotca drew mo forcibly away.
II Mind what you’re about, please,” said ho,
sharply, “ I shall have to answer for tbo miscon
duct of tbo visitors I bring over. Iteoolleot,
you’re not at Eton or Harrow. Tbo College
rules with regard to athlotlo games aro these:
Boys whoso stock of natural strength and agility
shall exceed the average oro forbidden to exor
cise them'and become proficients. Whore the
excess of physical power is extreme, the boy is.
forbidden to lake part in them at all. This is in
order that all those who do play may bo nearly
on a par.”
“ But what tamo affairs your games must al
ways bo I ”
“Throw tbo competition upon a largo school,
you will always find that some balf-a-dozon will
outshine all tbo rest, and bo worshiped as he
roes and kings. And why ? Because they aro
honest • and deserving ? No. Because they
chance to bo bom to an exorbitant amount of
private property—brawny arms, broad chests,
long lege, quick sight.' Is this a cause why a
youth, like your laud and water giants, should
mako money, ho talked about and Lave half a
newspaper column devoted to him and his ex
ploits ? What is to become of tbo weaker, the
puny, tbo abort-wiudod brethren? But grout
practice and skill to the weak, and not to the
strong, and you bring the two parties on a
level,”
To tlifa I had nothing to reply. Ho next took
mo into tho gymnasium, where wo found such a
sickly-looking &ot of boys, that I asked, iu bodio
alarm, if ilio Bito of the College wero a healthy
ouo.
“ Uncommonly ao. The rodiatributlon of tho
wealth of health, a very delicate job, too, has
boon carried out with signal success. Not a boy
loaves school of whom it can bo said that ho
has a particularly robust or a particularly shaky
constitution. Wo have a sanitary standard, the
highest to which it is possible, by dint of care
and exorcise, to raise tho weakly boys. Tho re
duction to it of tho ovorhoalthy Is a compara
tively easy task, but quite necessary. There is
no privilege that gives a man such an undue ad
vantage over his neighbors os tho possession of
the lion’s share of health.” 1
Wo wore now entering the school-room, where
a number of little Communists were receiving
instruction iu the Latin tongue. I noticed one
b/ight-oyod, sharp-looking follow, sitting by
himself, munching an apple. I patted him on
the head, and asked him the Latin for apple.
“I’ve not begun Latin,” ho said.
“Not yet ?” (Holooked 13, or more.)
“ No, and I’m half afraid 1 shan't. You know,
I’m a monstrously clover follow.”
“ Indeed; then what can you do ?”
“Head; and I’m soon to loam writing, if I
don't got on too fast.”
I took the ox-manager aside, and asked if the
young gentleman was out of his mind. Isotcs
laughed.
“That boy is what you call a genius— u>c a lit
tle intellectual millionaire. His parents never
found it out. It was one of the masters boro
who first detected iu him a private hoard of
quickness and intelligence which, cleverly in
vested, would one day have enabled him
to buy up tho wbolo College, masters included.
The same allowance and brain-culture that bis
ficbool-followß receive would bring him in extra
profit at tho rate of 200 per cent. But by keep
ing him back, and carefully chocking bis activity
of mind, we cut down his not mental iucomo to
tho average figure, and prevent his unjust pro
motion over tho mass.”
“ But tho injustice to the boy himself 1”
“ Ho is well off enough.”
“ But mast fall short of what ho might have
been."
“Which makes him equal with tho others.
There is a certain point up to which all hoys, not
positively deficient, can bo educated. Those
with ready wits, good memories, and superior
powers of application sbould.jjbe kept by arti
ficial moans from rising above it. Shall tho boy
who learns slowly and hardly be branded as a
dunce, because that despot. Nature, has treated
him ill ? Shall tho naturally apt, the keen, the
sagacious trample on tho naturally obtuse. Not
hero in tho Commune.”
Heroin tho Commune, as I was beginning
I to understand, they undertook to sot oven
I Nature to rights, and life was a handicap race.
As wo went into tho street, tho first words that
Isotos dropped confounded mo quite.
“Ah,” ho said, carelessly, “hero comes tho
Marquis ; I’ll introduce you, if you liko.”
“ Marquis 1" I repented, aghast.
“Yes, the Marquis of Canibb&s.”
“And you call this a Commune ?"
“Why not? Because wo have our aristoc
racy ?”
“ It’s flatly absurd. Tho very notion of such
an institution is contrary to tho first principles ,
of equality."
“ You tolk liko a novice, who hasn’t got be
yond tho first principles. You havo everything
yet to learn. Look there."
A littlo hunchback was riding toward us. Ho
was magnificently dressed (a groat contrast in
this respect to the other male citizens, who all
wore plain olothos—very plain clothes), and was
mounted on a very flue thoroughbred.
“That’s his Grace," said Isotes, bowing po
litely. “In tho Commune all cripples ore barons,
blind men carls, dwarfs marquises, and so on.
Titles rising witu tho gravity of tho natural de
fect. You see those people are born to a herit
age of bcotu. Por a long time we really did not
know what to do with thorn, and once they re
volted, saying that It was flatly absurd, in a
Comrauno, for men to start in hfo at such a dis
advantage as they did. Now, wo could not re
duce the riholo state to tboir level, and so some
body proposed to exterminate all tho incurables,
but that measure was rejected as too inhuman.
It was a lucky bit, this raising them into a no
bility. Before, they wore always grumbling.
But this guarautoes them a share of that respect
which is every honest man’s duo. and of which
nature deprived them from their birth. Tho
street boy used to laugh at Carabbas. They
don’t dare, now that ho has got his coronet and
ermine mantle." A citizen was passing at this
moment, and stopped to shako bauds with Isotos,
who accosted him at tho top of Ida voico t
“Well, did you got tho order ?’’
“ Bemandea for a mouth," was tho reply. “ I
must pass another examiuatiou. I'm not given
up yot."
“That gentleman,” my cicerone explained,
“ has lately become very deaf. Ho applied for
an order”—
“Por the hospital?”
“No, no: for an order of knighthood. But
they don't think tho case bad enough at present.
Should it become confirmed ho will bo dubbed
immediately.”
I mado no comment. But tho picture that
arose before mo of a House of Lords thus con
stituted was so droll that I fell into a fit of
laughter.
Passing through tho streets, I wan chiefly
struck by tho absence of beauty among the
women, and also by tho frightful way in which
many of them woro dressed. This bad taste
seemed, however, by no moans general. Pres
ently! inquired, Jestingly, of Isolos, whether
they had mauy pretty lady Communists. Ho
looked astonished by tho question.
“ Why. tho stock of beauty was never larger
than at the present. There goes a pretty gin
look I ”
“ Pretty scarecrow 1" I muttered rudely, at tho
sight of a damsel iu a rusty black gown aud
shawl, widow's cap aud spectacles.
“ Oh, you mean tho dross. My word for It,
she has splendid eyes. hair, and complexion.
That girl camo to us with a fortune in her face.
Well, in tho Commune, of course, she couldn’t
havo It to spend. Wo know how, in society, tho
pretty and attractive lord it over the homely and
silent; how, when It comes to marriage, tho for
mer way pick and choose from u hundred suitors,
aud tho latter never come in for a single offer.
Now wo oau’t alter the girts* faces, but dross
goes a loug way, aud their costumes wo can and
o regulate. Our fixed rate of beauty is within
tho roach of almost ony lady who drosßcs wdn7
and thoao to whom an extravagant grant of graco
and good loohs was mndo in tho first iuat&noo
have to dross down to it.”
I thought this a sad pity, and asked If things
had always been so in tho Communo.
“ No," ho said, with a sigh} thoro was a tlmo
—but wo must not regret ft—wbon no limitation
was laid on personal charms. What woro tho
results? Appropriation of ibo affections of tbo
whole youth of tho Communo by somo holf-n
--dozon hollos! Insurrection of tbo snub-nosed,
rod-haired, and hurd-fontmed sisterhood I It'
certainly was a crying injustice for them, though
fairly woll-condncted and hard-working, to no
quoted in social Ufo at half tho price of those
others. An institution of ugly heiresses would
only havo complicated matters. But wo smooth
ed nil difiloultlofl by this simple expedient of tho
1 lleduotion of all Beauty to a Medium.’"
Isotos next directed my attention to a largo
hall, from which ommatod sounds of music.
“Bhall wo look in ?” ho nuked 5 “there’s a grand
concert going on at tho Aaadomy."
“By ail means," I replied ; “lama musician
myself, and. always regretted to hoar it bald Hint
such doctrines as yours had a toudouoy to dis
parage tho Uno arts.”
Ho laughed. “ Another of tbo crude notions
of tbo bogiunor. Hero wo encourage art, under
proper restrictions, of course. Even a Com
muuo fools tbo want of a littlo recreation now
ami then.”
My first act as wo entered tho concort-room
was to clap both hands to my oars. A Com
munist virtuoso was running through somo va
riations, with wonderful facility ami tremendous
force, on that instrument of torture—a piano
utterly out of luno. Lucidly ho had nearly fin
ished. Soon tho discords ceased, aud ho retired
amid moderate applause. After ono or two in
different vocal exhibitions, camo a young Indy
pianist, nervous and woodou, who ebufilod
through a sonata 011 ono of the most splendid
instruments I over heard in my Hfo. •
“I don’t care for hor," I observed to Isotos,
as we loft tho ball. “But if tho young man
who appeared first had only bad hor piano to
play on ’* —
“ Ho would havo received an extravagant sum
of applause," broke in tbo ox-managor; “double
as much as tho gill, who is tho most painstaking
E arson of tho two—practices nine hours a day.
ut hor fingers aro naturally stiff.' The other
has flexibility of joints, lightness of touch, and
a capital oar. All this ho got for nothing, in
herited from his mother, who was musical too.
Is it fair that ho who holds a largo musical for
tune that ho uovor earned should bo allowed tbo
extra advantage of a first-class instrument ?
What chance would Labor have against Capital
without somo such regulations to balance a pre
ponderance of tho lattor in such cases?”
Wo had now reached myguido’s house. As wo
wout np stairs, bo asked mo if I was beginning
to understand Communism.
“ I think, with you, that I have everything to
learn,” I replied, numbly. In tho drawing-room
wo found two young people, whom leotos intro
duced to mo as hia bod and daughter, Abel and
Eva. Ho then excused himself, having to at
tend to some business.
Eva was a beauty. I knew it directly, from
her unbecoming dress. There, beneath her
hideous cap, I could apy tho cropped gold hair.
That clumsy ruff bespoke a sloncfer throat, tho
ill-fitting gown andouoimous slippers a graceful
figure and tiny foot, those blue spectacles a
bright pair of eyes. I soon became friends with
her and Abel. I found both very conversational
and lively. Only when I alluded to tho Costume
laws in tho Commune a shade crossed Eva’s
face. I fiankly admitted how sorry I was to see
her disfigure herself in blue spectacles.
"What’s to bo done?” sho said, seriously;
“ I’ve got auch an enormous stock of beauty,
and it will accumulate. They say if it goes on
at this rate I shall have to dye my hair gray.
But perhaps I might leave off my spectacles if I
could Icaru to squint.”
“Don’t, pray, talk of anything so horrible.
Have you any sisters, or brothers besides Abel?”
“Several. But wo gave them all away. Sev
eral Communist families were very short of chil
dren at that time. Generally os many as four or
five aro allowed to each household.”
Isotca now joined us, and wo all went to din
ner together. Tho two young people interested
mo immensely, especially Abel, who was a very
handsome, striking-looking follow. Ho had an
unfortunate impediment iu hia speech, but all
his observations, whon ho did got thorn out,woro
most original, thoughtful, and witty. But onco
or twico ho lot fall a remark betraying an igno
rance amounting to that of a savage. Immedi
ately after dinner I started with Isotos for tho
ball ho had promised to tako mo to, Aa wo
wont, I seized tbo opportunity of being alono
with him to congratulate him on hia charming
eon and daughter.
Ho told mo they had given tbo Commune a
world of trouble, being endowed, both of them,
with parts of outrageous value, especially Abel,
who, at tho ago of G, composed versos aud played
like an angel ou tho piano. Of course ho was
forbidden to learn music, aud hia education has
boon most carefully neglected. At 10 ho was
taken with a lucky stammer which hod squared
matters to somo degree. But ho had still to bo
watebed. For a suspicion had boon spread that
the stammer was all a sham, put ou in order that
ho might bo allowed to dine out.
“ To dine out ?”
“ Abel haa & good deal of conversation, and a
largo fund of wit and repartee."
A very agreeable follow to moot at dinner.”
“Yes, but in tho Commune very agreeable fol
lows aro not allowed to dino out. They aro so
apt to monopolize tho invitations. I know men
iu London who might positively chooso for them
selves, night after night, at whoso table thoy
would dino; while for others an evening from
homo was a rare and blessed event. Natural so
cial gifts, such as Abel's must bo bridled. Elso
the owner's gross receipts of social pleasure will
be far iu advance of those of the majority of
his follow-mon, whoso social incomes aro do
rived from loss productive sources.”
My spirits, which had boon a little damped by
tho previous dialogue, rose as we entered tho
ball-room. I delight m dancing, and was be
ginning to accustom rayaolt to tho olToct o{ tho
Costume laws. Introductions, said Isotos, woro
not considered necessary at a ball. So I walked
up unhesitatingly to a young aud tolerably nice
looking girl aud requested tho honor of a clauco.
She almost bounded from her chair with sur
prise. or Indignation, or both.
“Why, I’m only seventeen. Sturdy I don't
look more than that I ”
“A charming ago,” I replied, gallantly.
“ Sweet seventeen, may I have tho pleasure ?”
She turned to her ohaperou with a look of dis
may I shall never forgot; hut tho old ladyamilod
on mo benignly.
“ Tho gentleman is a stranger. I have hoard
all about him. Sit down,” she added to me,
“ you may talk to my daughter, though she may
not dance, lu tho Commune, no girl over does,
till she is past flvo-and-twonty.
“ But why, madam, why ?”
“It is a sot-oir to tho exaggerated profit
afforded to youth aud freshness and domed to
sterling worth and experience. Wo passed this
by-law to quiet tho spinsters. They brought a
petition compluiniug that, having neither tho
dignified position oi married women, nor tho at
tractions of early girlhood, they were unfairly
placed. Tho grievance was proved. This rule
and a few others of tho samo sort woro passed lu
their favor, and havo worked very well, for there
have boon no complaints since.”
Of all tho aberrations of justice I had yet
witnessed, this seemed to mo tho most prepos
terous. unable to disgulso my feelings. 1 loft
tho room in a huff, without a word to isotos,
aud walked straight hack to his house, trying to
invent some excuse for my sudden flight. Ah 1
mounted tho stairs, 1 hoard tho most exquisite
sounds stealing from tho drawing-room. I
opened tho door softly, entered on tiptoo, and
there remained, rooted to tho spot by tho charm
ing sight that mot ray eyes. Eva, rid of her
ruff, cap, and spectacles, looking as lovely as an
angel, sat at the piano, singing. Beside her
stood Abel, listening, entranced. She touched
tho notes with an untutored baud, but her
voice, though quite untrained, was beautiful, —
past description,—rich, full, and flawless. As I
listened, tears of delight rose to my eyes, and I
uttered an iuvoluntaiy “Bruvisslma!” Eva
jumped up, aud, on seeing mo, gave a piercing
“Bon'tbo frightened." I implored. “That
song again, Eva. My child, you havo the iuoh6
glorious voice In tho world. Take caro of it,
cultivate it well, and one clay you will bo tho de
light of nations,” 1 concluded with enthusiasm.
“ What do you moan ?" she cried. “ Blouse,
please don't toll, Only papa knows, and ho says
there's no harm in it if 1 never sing; ami I
never do, except to Abel. But tho Commune
would not trust mo, ami, if they know. I might
have to do something disagreeable. 'For there's
no kind of property on which they keep so strict
a watch as on fine voices.”
“And they aro quite right,” broke In Abel.
“I'vo keen told timt in Loudon people will
sometimes givo live guineas to hoar otto, and
Hint tho finest singers aro bribed to appear, at
tbo rate of £2OO or £BOO per night, end have
bouquets aud jewels showetod on thorn besides;
while tho others, who work twice as hard, got
wretchedly low wages. Is it true?”
1 owned that it was.
“ tihamo on tho public who will pay tribute to
a certain formation of tbo throat or tbo earl Is
it not infamous that favors should go, for so
Hollow a reason, to muu/ nU u u«i« ‘*r*,^=r 0
to cam thorn ?’*
“Eva—Abol," I exclaimed, “ thoao aro wild
ravings. Infatuated children—to shackle and
Bpoll the gifts of Frovldonco In this barbarous
way. Como with mo and lot us fly to ray coun
try. Thoro. Abol, you will bo a poot, looked up
to and loved by tho host In tho land. You, Eva,
will throw Patti and Nilsson in the shade, and
havo all London at your foot. Thoro tho roads
to perfection and honor aro open, and you may
hone for everything."
Another shrink from Eva, and I felt a hand on
my shoulder. Turning round I saw Isotos. Ho
was looking at mo reproachfully, more in pKy
than in anger.
“Stranger, I arrest you in tho name of tho
Commune I"
That very night I was brought up for prelim
inary examination before tbo magistrates,
charged with trying to corrupt tho youth of tho
Communo, aud entice thorn away from thoir
homos.
1 bad no tlmo to prepare ray dofonso. All I
could do was to reply to tho questions in a
straightforward manner, and ns tho inquiry pro
ceeded my answers seemed to slip out una
wares.
“ You woro admitted to tho Communo as a
•visitor ?"
“ I was."
“ But as a truo convert to the principles of
liberty ond equality?"
“ Certainly."
“ And can you deny that here the lota of all
mon aro. as noarly as possible, equalized
“No.
“ You wore taken In tbo not of undermining
principles you profess ?"
“ No—protesting against tbo sequestration of
superior artistic powers."
“ Superior 1 Superior powers can only belong
to a fuw, and, if allowed freo play, onablo a few
to htt up their beads over tho masses. What
becomes of equality ?"
“You go too far. Tako wealth, material
wealth into your hands to bo dealt out for, tho
public good, but stop thoro.’’
They looked at each other with amusement.
“ Don’t you perceive, ’’ said ono, “that this ar
rangement enhances enormously tbo values of a
capital of beauty, intellect, or Imagination?
Other things being equal, wiiatobanco hero be
low has a blockhead against a man of genius?"
“ But your system is unnatural.”
“That wo allow. If men woro born freo and
equal, our laws would not bo necessary. But
tho saying is a falsehood. Ail mon arc born do
fondent on each othor, and no two aro equal,
bis tho glory of our state to have dono away
with native disparities, aud brought all things to
ono standard."
“A. (standard of mediocrity,” I cried, “ which
none are to have a chance of passing. If all
mußt bo alike, and not all can be flrst-rato, n >no
can bo flrst-rato, and what bocomoa of perfec
tion ?” *
At this all tho magistrates rose in dismay,
with an outcry, “ What was that word ? Bopoat
it?”
“Yea,” I persisted, “that you must own. It
ia a miserable society that is founded on selfish
principles alone, and not on charity to all and
honor for what is good and groat in nature and
man. As for mo, lean bear tho eight of my
bettora in fortune, honor whoro honor is duo,
asplro and hopo for myself. If neod lot not one
star differ from another in glory. But do not
bar tho way to excellence becaauo greatness is
easier for aomo than for others. For perfection
ia tho goal all are to run for, though few can re
ceive the prize.”
At tho word Perfection, there arose such an
uproar as completely drowned my voice. I was
seized, hustled out of tho room Into the street,
dragged to tho railway-station, and put into a
special train. Just as it started X fell asleep, ex
hausted. I awoke in my study, repeating “ Per
fection ia tho goal for all to run for, though fow
cau receive the prize.”
OLD FARMER BROWN.
From the harvest-field, old Farmer Brown came hem*
with a look of care;
Ho throw bis hat on tho floor, and sat down in bis old
npllut-bottoracd chair;
Be wiped the sweat from hie dripping brow, and pulled
out hia old Jack-knife;
Ho whittled away to himself awhile, and called to bla
little wife.
From her quaint and tidy kitchen, sho came through
tho open door,
With her sleeves pinned up to her shoulders and her
skirt pinned up before.
Bho looked as faded, wrinkled, and worn as the folds
of her glngham-gown,
When sho saw tho haggard and hopelcas look on the
face of Farmer llrown.
Then down in her rocking-chair sho sank, In a sort of
a helpless way,
Nor spoke one word, hut listened and looked to hoar
what ho might say.
" Hannah, I’m sick a-livln* here, an* a-workln’ from
Bpring to fall
A-raiein’ Haters an* corn to sell, that don't bring noth*
in’at all.
Here wo bavo worked together, for forty years, like a
pair of slaves,
An* that old morlgagt ain’t lifted yet that I owe to
Gideon Graves.
That Judgmout-uoto o’ Deacon Bunn’s will soon be a
failin' due,
An* whore tho money’s a cornin’ from, why, I can’t
tell, nor you.
I’m kept in seek a worry on* fret by all of these sort o’
things,
That I have to sell the stuff that I raise right off for
what It brings.
It costs bo much for my taxes now, an* to keep the
wolf away,
That I haven’t no chance to make a cent, an* that la
what’s to pay.
Hannah, wo’vo both on us grown old, an* our children
all are gone;
There la no one now that Is left at home for ns to do*
pond upon.
I ain’t as strong os I used to bo, nor as able to work, I
know;
But I’ve got to set these matters square, an* the farm’ll
have to go,
" Half o’ tho world lives Idle, with plenty to oat an*
wear,
An’ the oucs who work the hardest have often the least
to spare.
The farmers work till their forms are bent, an* their
bands are hard an' brown;
The workmen dclvo In tho dust an* smoko o’ the work
shops In the town;
The sturdy sailors bring to our shores the wealth o*
foreign lands;
An* the other half o’ tho world subsists by tho work o’
these hardened hands. „
An'thU la one o’the reasons why 1 can’t pay what I
owe,
While you an’ I are a-gotlin* old, and the farm ’ll have
to go.
“ I’ve worked in the woods In the winter-time, I’ve
plowed &u’ towed iu tho spring,
I’ve hoed and dug through summer and fall, an’l
haven't made a thing.
Sometime* I lie awake all night, an’ worry, an’ fuss,
an’ fret,
An’ never * tingle wink o’ Bleep nor a bit o’ rest I get,
I think o’ our grown-up children, au’ tho lifo they’ve
jest begun;
Thoy’fo gob to boa tbo tamo hard row or you aud I
have done. •
I think o’ the politician!, an* (ho way that they rob an*
steal,
An', tho more I think o’ farmin’, tho poorer It makes
me feel.
Tho speculators buy up our cbeeso, our butter, out
wool an’ hay.
An* they sell ’em agin for moro’n twice as much a*
they had to pay.
They bleed ua in transportation, they fleece us every
where; , ,
They cheat us on our provisions an* the very clomta
wo wear.
They live lu their lofty houses, on tho best that can bo
Their wives wear dazzlin’ diamonds, an’ their children
loaf around;
In tbo summer they go to tho teathoro an* the springs,
to make a show.
An’ that Is thu way our butter an* cheese, an* our com
au* Haters go.
“ Wo work in the atm all summer, raise turnips an*
corn on nharen,
That the railroad* an' politicians may cheat us an* pul
on airs.
They carry tho reins o’ power, an* will till we fill our
grave* X
They rule nu'ruin the markets, an* we are apache 4
slaves.
What’s to be done ? Ood only knows. I’ve failed in
many way*
In tryiu’ to lay a lectio by to cave my declinin' days.
X uovor have bcc-n a shiftless man; I’vo tlggored; I'vo
worked an' tried,
Wlalle tliu old farm'tt been a mnnlu' down since Uu
day tliutfatlior died.
I’ve borrowed money to pay my debts, an* I’vo watched
tho interest grow,
Till it fairly gut the start o' me, au’ the farm 'll havo
to eo.”
Then the little wlfo of Farmer Brown stood up upon
the floor,
And she looked at him in a kind of way that she never
had before.
Tho furrowu fled from her shriveled chocks and her
faro grew all aglow :
“ 1 never will sign the deoa, John, au' the farm shall
nerrr go.
Them's Jest one thing to be done, as sure as you an' I
are burn:
You must join the Guanos an' vote, John, if you would
sell your corn.
Hope au* prayer are good, John, for the man who digs
mi' delves, , ,
But Heaven will nover help us, John, unless we help
ourselves.
I ain’t an uhippur, an' smart, an' apry, nor as strong
as I used to he, . . . , ,
But I've gutoAeiipo'apunX*, John, when It’s started
up in we.”
Over the old man’s furrowed face the tears began to
lie never liad full moro proud aud atrong alnco their
A golden plcam of hope illumined his soul s
Aud, kneeling down on the time-worn floor, both
bowed their beads in prayer. .
Eugtm Jt iiaU in Our t'irwde
11