Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1894)
THE COURIER 13 SOCIAL HYPOCRISY. v fts- BAbbADE OF WILL BROKENBRIDGE. Ygk OW harken all ye olden men, vho6e beards are white as snow, tl unto my tale of Brokcnbridge avhich tills my heart with woe. This poor old man, a statesman proud, and eke of goodlio fame, until he met a damsel young, who brought his head to shame. For when upon a journey far he rode one summer day, thero came to him a pretty miss, who unto him did say "Will brokenbridge, I ken thy face, and we have met before,"' and made the dear old man bo lievo that she knew him of yoro. And Will, whose heart is over true to damsels fair to see, did scat himself beside her there, and talk right gallantlie. A day or two had scarcely gone, when Will ho did receive a letter from this damsel fair, which made his heart to grieve. She wrote to him in sore distress, and bade him come for sure, for she had caught a heart complaint, which only he could cure. But when he came unto her there, and heard the doleful tale, he did sus pect that she had plans his virtue to assail. Now, had ho fled away at once, and left the wicked thing, no trial he would have to stand, and we no song to sing. But women all since Adam's timo, know how to keep a man, and thus a naughty liaison betwixt these two began. For when the sun began to sink she took him out to drive; the drive it ended not till ten which had begun at five. Poor Will he wept, and pray'd the maid her ardor to restrain, and strove to keep his honor pure with all his might and main. But Will could not withstand the force of that young lady's sway, and she did make poor Will to rue the kindness of that day. And so for years this tempting maid kept William in her net, until with sorrow and dis tress he gan to chafe and fret. She wound her spells about his heart, and kept him at her side, although to fly her wicked wiles the good man often tried. They like two birds together dwelt, and eke did often sing but suddenly the spell was rent, when Brokenbridge took Wing. When Maddy found her bird had flown she raised a fearful row, and swore to make Will Brokenbridge to keep his marriage vow. But Will he was already wed, and had a wife so true, so then to make it hot for him his sweetheart did him sue, And in the court before the world, and bench of legal scholars, she sued poor Will for breach of prom., and fif ty-thoueand dollars. Now, all ye old and giddy men, be warned by this, my tale, and keep away from damsels fair whom virtuo will assail; But if you must love something young, and can't get it by marriage, why go and take it out to drive, but in an opsn carriage. From Town Topics. PROVERBS, CHAPTER XIII. A wise son heareth his father's instruction, and then doeth as he please. He that keepeth his mouth closed keepeth his reputation for wisdom; but he that openeth wide his lips shall lose it. The Bluggard often stumbleth over that which the diligent seeketh in vain. A righteous man hateth lying; but other men lieth, and he must keep up with the procession. Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way; but wicked ness showeth him a short cut. The ransom of a man's life is sometimes a pair of blue eyes; but there are cases on record where it was not an AI deal. The light of the righteous may be waiting for the gasoline man, while the lamp of the wicked burneth brightly. Only by foolishness cometh a fight; with the well advised there is no scrap. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished. In times like these this applieth to wealth gotten by other means. Good understanding giveth favor; but with an old pair of shoes the road is rocky. He that walketh with wLse men shall seem to be wise; but be may be a fit companion for fools. Evil pursueth sinners; sometimes its eyesight is bad, and other people get rapped. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children, and the children's children bloweth it in. USTOM takes a man from his comfortable fireside whether he ( will or no, and sends him out smiling and singing, whilo ment ally kicking himself. ' Women in society are past masters in the art of hypocrisy Society demands an offering of flattery, and we develop in hyj6- crisy as we become adepts in flattery. We revile a man when his back is turned and greet him like a long lost brother when he turns around. Men pose as lovers of books when they are simply admirers of polished morocco binding and calfskin and gilt lottering. People often tell of books they have read when they haven't oven seen the titlo page. We all pretend to admire true worth rather than outside trappings; but we salute the scoundrel or the nincompoop who goes dashing by in his splendid equipage, and somehow do not always seo our friend who has true worth and poverty stamped all over him, as ho jogs along on foot. We go into raptures over a picture when wo can't tell a Corot from a Rosa Bonheur and can hardly see any difference between a era on drawing and a photogravure. We sacrifice truth in order to conform to the standards that custom has set up. and to bolster up our reputation. We gaze at tho stars with our shoes in the mud. We profess to be ingenuous, but we aro striving for effect. THE WISE PEOPLE OF THE EAST. One sometimes meets with people who make surprising state ments or admissions. After all, the wisdom of the world is not all held within tho boundaries of Boston and Now York. People who come from even those places disclose no little ignorance. It seems almost impossible for New York and New England people to form a correct idea of the west. The ignorance of really intelligent peo ple is almost inexcusable. An incident happened in Omaha not long since which illustrates this. A certain Miss Benfey of New York city was making a tour of the west and stopped in Omaha. She is reported to be somewhat of an elocutionist, and doubtless a cultivated lady. In any event she was entertained and gave a read ing which quite pleased her hearers. Afterward in conversation, she was heard to make some remark about the New York Sorosis, this, in the hearing of a Lincoln lady, who is not only loyal to Lin coln but otherwise accomplished; though not a member of the Lin coln Sorosis she is familiar with its work and proud of the organi zation. She at once expressed the wish that Miss Benfey might meet the Lincoln Sorosis. "And where is Lincoln pray?" was the astonishing reply. Honors were easy. If Miss Benfey had not heard of Lincoln, neither had Lincoln heard of Miss Benfey. But really are there many intelligent, cultivated people who have not heard of our great university, our dozen of higher schools, and the other interest ing things connected with this city? Either we must advertise more, and that is vulgar perhaps, or our eastern friends must allow their intelligence to spread a little beyond tho limit of their own vicinage. jj CHOIGE REAL, ESTATE. The Cockier takes great pleasure in calling the attention of its readers to its new advertising department notices of real estate for Bale, rent and exchange, which will hereafter be found on page 18. Hard work keeps constantly af it, and every once in a while it passes genius in the race for success. What o You Takr Medicine for? Because you are sick and want to get well.or because you wish to prevent illness. Then remember that Hood's Sarsapar illa cures all diseases caused by impure blood and debility of the system. It is not what its proprietors say but what Hood's Sarsa parilia does, that tells the story of its merit. Be sure to get Hood's and only Hood's. Famous offer of 50 dozen Leghorn hats in black and white at G3c. is a good one, as they are really worth $1.25.