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club。 He can join a family party to go down the Rhine。 He can； to see the
last of a friend； venture into the very jaws of the marriage ceremony itself。
He can keep his head through the whirl of a ravishing waltz； and rest
afterward in a dark conservatory； catching nothing more lasting than a cold。
He can brave a moonlight walk adown sweet…scented lanes or a twilight
pull among the somber rushes。 He can get over a stile without danger；
scramble through a tangled hedge without being caught； come down a
slippery path without falling。 He can look into sunny eyes and not be
dazzled。 He listens to the siren voices； yet sails on with unveered helm。 He
clasps white hands in his； but no electric 〃Lulu〃…like force holds him
bound in their dainty pressure。
No； we never sicken with love twice。 Cupid spends no second arrow
on the same heart。 Love's handmaids are our life…long friends。 Respect；
and admiration； and affection； our doors may always be left open for； but
their great celestial master； in his royal progress； pays but one visit and
departs。 We like； we cherish； we are very； very fond ofbut we never love
again。 A man's heart is a firework that once in its time flashes heavenward。
Meteor…like； it blazes for a moment and lights with its glory the whole
world beneath。 Then the night of our sordid commonplace life closes in
around it； and the burned…out case； falling back to earth； lies useless and
uncared for； slowly smoldering into ashes。 Once； breaking loose from our
prison bonds； we dare； as mighty old Prometheus dared； to scale the
Olympian mount and snatch from Phoebus' chariot the fire of the gods。
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
Happy those who； hastening down again ere it dies out； can kindle their
earthly altars at its flame。 Love is too pure a light to burn long among the
noisome gases that we breathe； but before it is choked out we may use it as
a torch to ignite the cozy fire of affection。
And； after all； that warming glow is more suited to our cold little back
parlor of a world than is the burning spirit love。 Love should be the vestal
fire of some mighty templesome vast dim fane whose organ music is the
rolling of the spheres。 Affection will burn cheerily when the white flame
of love is flickered out。 Affection is a fire that can be fed from day to day
and be piled up ever higher as the wintry years draw nigh。 Old men and
women can sit by it with their thin hands clasped； the little children can
nestle down in front； the friend and neighbor has his welcome corner by its
side； and even shaggy Fido and sleek Titty can toast their noses at the bars。
Let us heap the coals of kindness upon that fire。 Throw on your
pleasant words； your gentle pressures of the hand； your thoughtful and
unselfish deeds。 Fan it with good…humor； patience； and forbearance。 You
can let the wind blow and the rain fall unheeded then； for your hearth will
be warm and bright； and the faces round it will make sunshine in spite of
the clouds without。
I am afraid； dear Edwin and Angelina； you expect too much from love。
You think there is enough of your little hearts to feed this fierce； devouring
passion for all your long lives。 Ah； young folk！ don't rely too much upon
that unsteady flicker。 It will dwindle and dwindle as the months roll on；
and there is no replenishing the fuel。 You will watch it die out in anger and
disappointment。 To each it will seem that it is the other who is growing
colder。 Edwin sees with bitterness that Angelina no longer runs to the gate
to meet him； all smiles and blushes； and when he has a cough now she
doesn't begin to cry and； putting her arms round his neck； say that she
cannot live without him。 The most she will probably do is to suggest a
lozenge； and even that in a tone implying that it is the noise more than
anything else she is anxious to get rid of。
Poor little Angelina； too； sheds silent tears； for Edwin has given up
carrying her old handkerchief in the inside pocket of his waistcoat。
Both are astonished at the falling off in the other one； but neither sees
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
their own change。 If they did they would not suffer as they do。 They would
look for the cause in the right quarterin the littleness of poor human
naturejoin hands over their common failing； and start building their
house anew on a more earthly and enduring foundation。 But we are so
blind to our own shortcomings； so wide awake to those of others。
Everything that happens to us is always the other person's fault。 Angelina
would have gone on loving Edwin forever and ever and ever if only Edwin
had not grown so strange and different。 Edwin would have adored
Angelina through eternity if Angelina had only remained the same as
when he first adored her。
It is a cheerless hour for you both when the lamp of love has gone out
and the fire of affection is not yet lit； and you have to grope about in the
cold； raw dawn of life to kindle it。 God grant it catches light before the day
is too far spent。 Many sit shivering by the dead coals till night come。
But； there； of what use is it to preach？ Who that feels the rush of
young love through his veins can think it will ever flow feeble and slow！
To the boy of twenty it seems impossible that he will not love as wildly at
sixty as he does then。 He cannot call to mind any middle…aged or elderly
gentleman of his acquaintance who is known to exhibit symptoms of
frantic attachment； but that does not interfere in his belief in himself。 His
love will never fall； whoever else's may。 Nobody ever loved as he loves；
and so； of course； the rest of the world's experience can be no guide in his
case。 Alas！ alas！ ere thirty he has joined the ranks of the sneerers。 It is not
his fault。 Our passions； both the good and bad； cease with our blushes。 We
do not hate； nor grieve； nor joy； nor despair in our thirties like we did in
our teens。 Disappointment does not suggest suicide； and we quaff success
without intoxication。
We take all things in a minor key as we grow older。 There are few
majestic passages in the later acts of life's opera。 Ambition takes a less
ambitious aim。 Honor becomes more reasonable and conveniently adapts
itself to circumstances。 And lovelove dies。 〃Irreverence for the dreams of
youth〃 soon creeps like a killing frost upon our hearts。 The tender shoots
and the expanding flowers are nipped and withered； and of a vine that
yearned to stretch its tendrils round the world there is left but a sapless
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
stump。
My fair friends will deem all this rank heresy； I know。 So far from a
man's not loving after he has passed boyhood； it is not till there is a good
deal of gray in his hair that they think his protestations at all worthy of
attention。 Young ladies take their notions of our sex from the novels
written by their own； and compared with the monstrosities that
masquerade for men in the pages of that nightmare literature； Pythagoras'
plucked bird and Frankenstein's demon were fair average specimens of
humanity。
In these so…called books； the chief lover； or Greek god； as he is
admiringly referred toby the way； they do not say which 〃Greek god〃 it
is that the gentleman bears such a striking likeness to； it might be hump…
backed Vulcan； or double…faced Janus； or even driveling Silenus； the god
of abstruse mysteries。 He resembles the whole family of them； however； in
being a blackguard； and perhaps this is what is meant。 To even the little
manliness his classical prototypes possessed； though； he can lay no claim
whatever； being a listless effeminate noodle； on the shady side of forty。
But oh！ the depth and strength of this el