THE COURIER
V
H.
A
Y
THE ABODE OF IDEAb LOVE
A-LEGEND.
qVHE following beautiful legend, which translated from tho
German of Nurd und Slid, which in its turn translated is
from tho Polish, is an old Hindu legend, born of pootic
fancy when the race-was young. Its simple teaching is that ideal
love, called into existence by a special act of Divine will, is too deli
cate' for contact with the rude world, and has no'sure abiding-place
save in tho poet's heart. v
"Once, on a bright moonlight night (runs tho legend), tho wise
and mighty Krishna communed with himself and said:
" 'I thought man was the most beautiful of created things, but I
am mistaken. I see tho lotus-flower bow to tho passing breeze. How
it surpasses all living creatures in beauty. Its leaves are just closed
in the silvery moonlight . . . and I cannot turn my oyes away
from it.' . . .
" 'Yes, thero is nothing like the lily among men,' ho repeated sigh
ing. "But a moment later he thought:
" 'Why should not I, who am a god, by the might of my word,
create a being which would be to mankind what tho lotus is among
the flowers? So be it then for the delight of humanity and of tho
earth. Lotus-flower, be transformed into a maiden and stand before
me.'
"The waves rippled softly as the beating of swallow's wings, tho
night became clearer, tho moon shone deeper, the night-song of tho
thrush rose higher, and then suddenly died away. And it was as
Krishna had commanded. Before him stood the lotus-flower in
human form. The god himself was startled.
" 'Thou wert the flower of the waters, said he; bo henceforth tho
flower of my thoughts, and speak.'
"And the maiden began to whisper, softly as the murmur of white
lotus-leaves kissed by the summer air.
" 'Lord, thou hast transformed me into p. living creature; whero
wilt thou that I dwell? Remember, Lord, that when I was a flower
I tremblpd, and closed my leaves at every breath or wind. I was
smitten with fear, Lord, at the rain and the storm, the thunder and
the lightning; yea, I was even overcome with fear or tho scorching
rays of the sun. Thou comraandest me to become a living, breath
ing lotus-flower. I have, consequently, retained my former nature
and now, Lord, I am troubled at the earth and at everything that
lives upon it. . . "Where wilt thou, then, that I mako my abode?'
"Krishna lifted his serene eyes to the stars, meditated awhile, and
asked: " "'"-
" 'Wouldst thou live on the mountain's peaks?'
"'There is frost and snow;,I,.am afraid, Lord.
"'Well, then, I will build apalace of crystal for thee on the ocean
floor."
" 'In the depths of the waters there glide serpents and horrible
monsters. O Lord, I am afraid.'
" 'Wilt thou, then, dwell on tho boundless prairie?'
" 'O Lord, the prairie 'b ravaged with the thunder and the whirl
wind as with the tramp of wild herds.'
"'How then shall I provide for thee, thou flower that hast becomo
flesh? . . . Ah, in the caves of Ellora there live holy hermits.
Wilt thou, retired from tho world, make thy dwelling in the caves?'
" 'There rules the darkness, Lord; I am afraid.'
'Then Krishna sat him down upon a stone, and leaned his head
upon his hand. The. maiden stood before him, trembling and
quaking.
"At that moment the fiery crimson of dawn glowed in tho east;
the waves of ocean, tho palm trees and tho bamboos glistened with
gold. The rosy-winged flamingos, the blue cranes, and the white
swans in the waters joined their notes in chorus with the birds in
the jungle, and immediately was heard tho clang of harp-strings
extended upon a shell of pearl, and the words of a song in human
voice.
"Then Krishna aroused himself from his dream, and said:
" 'The poet Walmiki greets the rising sun.'
"A little later, the purple veil of dawn was withdrawn from the
flower-bedecked creepers, and Walmiki appeared upon the lake.
"At sight of tho transformed lotus-flower he ceased to play, the
pearly instrument slipped softly from his fingers to earth, his hands
dropped motionless to his sides, and he stood as speechless as though
Krishna had transformed him into a tree.
"And the god was ploasod at this admiration of his handiwork,
and said:
'"Wako, Walmiki, and Bpeak.'
"And Walmiki spoke:
" 'I love.'
"Tho will of the mighty Krishna, tho Divine will.drow tho maiden
to tho poot's heart. At tho god's lishcst also tho heart of Walmiki
became transparent as glass.
"Glad as a summer-day, peaceful as a wavo of tho Ganges, advan
ced the maiden to her allotted place; but suddenly, as she looked
deoper into Walkimi's heart, her countenance paled, and fear agita
ted her with its icy breath. Krishna was startled.
" 'Sentient flower,' he asked, 'art thou afraid ovon or tho heart of
tho poet?'
" 'Lord,' answered the maiden, 'what Bort of a dwolliug-placo is
this that thou hast appointed me? Hero in this one heart I behold
snowy mountain peaks and ocean depths peopled with terrible crea
tures; and here, too, the prairie with its whirlwind and storm; here
too, the dark cavos of Ellora; hence I am again afraid, O Lord!'
" But tho good and wise Krishna said:
"'Calm thyseir, sentient flower. If in Walmiki's heart thero aro
solitary snowfields, bo thou tho breath of spring to mult them. If
there are ocean depths in his heart, bo thou tho pearl or those waters.
Aro thero prairie wastes, then sow them with tho ilowera of happi
ness, and ir thou tindest thero dark caves as or Ellora. bo bo thou in
this darkness as a ray or sunlight '
'And Walmiki, who had m3anwhilo recovered his sp33ch, added:
"And be blessed!"'
VANITY FAIR.
Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair. . -
What can wo purchase in Vanity Fair?
Hearts, perhaps broken, but passing Tor new;
Vows, false when spoken, but warranted true.
Colors, they're faded, but fit still for wear;
Nothing is wasted in Vanity Fair.
Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair,
How goes the trading in Vanity Fair?
Worn, pale cheeks for red onei, and young hearts for old;
Fresh roses, for dead ones; brass passing for gold.
Some lose all in tho struggle, but none know of earo,
Xo room for the failures in Vanity Fair.
Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair,
I pray you come join us in Vanity Fair.
Bring youth and bring gladness, your high aims, bright de
sires. Purchase old age and sadness, b urnt out ashes of fires,
Naught else will be left you, but why should you care,
You have danced with the gayest in Vanity Fair.
Life.
FALL FASHIONS FOR MEN.
The fall styles in men's wear are now on view. A peculiar shade
of brown is predestined to bo the color or suits which are worn with
sack coats, but cutaway coats are still or the conservative dark
shades. The three button kind are extra long-waisted. Such coats
are shortened from four to three buttons. Trousers are to bo made
tight at the bottom and of medium width in the leg. Suits or vicu
na, cheviot, homespun and thibet are to be the prevailing rail and
winter apparel. In overcoats, or oversacks, as some call them, tho
predominating styles will be made up from cloth of light shades and
of all lengths. In ties the Ascot will be re-enforced by the Elysee,
the colors to be both solid and fancy, but tho patterns are small and
neat. The Bmall knot, so long provalont, will be superseded by one
of larger dimensions. Puffs will continue to be worn, tho Ascot puff
being always a favorite. The four-in-hand will be worn by the more
conservative. In bows those of black satin and white mulle have
quite superseded the short time. favorite, the stock bow. Mahogany
red is a new tint in gloves that, with the regulation golden tan, will
be extensively worn. In evening gloves the preference seems to bo
for pearl suedes and in glace kid. The standard blacks and whites
will, of course, be seen. With this correct information, obtained
from an expert, young men of the day need not go astray.