Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1885 — The Modern Shakspeare. [ARTICLE]

The Modern Shakspeare.

“Henrico! Dost love the fragrant winter time ?” “When buckwheat batter scents the early morn, and incense throbs in sizzling cod-fish ball ?” “Go to, thou giddy mocker thou, go to! There’s other fragrance than the vulgar sort; e’en such as balms the realm of sweet romance and freights the air of love and poesy.” “Ah! now I twig thy meaning, dainty sprite. In fancy ’tis the fragrant winter time. ” “Well, an’ thou likest, in fancy let it. be. Yet, good me lord, look yon upon the snow, where moonlight plays upon the whited prisms, and tinks its beams upon the frosted keys of jingling January ! Is that not invitation to the soul of youth, that longs for merry-making i’ the air, where sleigh-bells set themeasure of our joy and prankish winds do teach us how to kiss “And where, besides, the seeds of bronchial woes and pangful chilblains penetrate our lives, and we do contemplate an aftermath of doctor’s and apothecary’s bills.” “Nay, good Henrico, thou art growing old, else would no hint of these infest thy thoughts. I’ve heard Vingardo say, when thrill of winter’s bout had tuned his tongue, that heaven must needs invent some rare inducement if him from sleigh-ride it would seek to woo.” “And I have heard this rare Vingardo say, when liv’ry bill did stare him ? the face, that t’other place would see this liv’ry man e’re he would shekel him at his demand.” “But look you, boy, there’s other joy than just the jingling transit through the snowy deeps. I’ve heard them tell of certain hostelries where oysters grow them to the palate’s whim, and vinous fountains whelmed the savant’s thirst.” “Whereto experience doth give me proof, and yet, Andromeda, I needs must check me yearning for these rich indulgences. I’d freely feed thy cravings in this mood, but there’s an asthma which abides with me that oft doth nip desire i’ the bud, and whensoe’er thine inclination, sweet, doth meet abatement from thy lover true, thou’lt know the asthma rules, and leave it so.”—Yonkers Gazette.