Life — February 8, 1894 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Anda man's foes shall be they of his own household.” CHARACTERS FROM THE HOU OF J. M. BARRIE. The Little Minister of the Auld Licht Kirk in Thrums. {Known as“ The Egpy: Basse, . » 3 wan,” married to "Gavin. Tawaas Haccart, . sThe Humorist of { Thrums, Scene: The summer seat in the garden ef the Auld Licht Manse in Thrums, Babbie is seated in the sun of a warmith June day, knitting blue yarn stockings, Enter Gavin from the door of his study, carrying a new book in his hand, Gavin (sitting near Babbie): He's been at his tricks again, Who? Jamie Barrie, Here's more writin’ about us he’s been putting in a book, Bapeir. (looking at him slyly) : BEHOLD Gavin Diswart, 64 Does he tell any more tales about a Little Minister who was fooled by an Egyptian ? ‘He's OREN AT HIS TRICKS AGAIN." Gavin (dropping into Scotch affectionately): Ab, my lassie, but Jamie did mak you braw and bonnie in the buke! Iam no sayin’ that you're not a cantie bit stocky wi the licht o° heaven i’ your een, but Jamie shudna’ hae flattered you so to your face. It’s wicked and warldly | BABBIE (with @ mocking sigh): We all have our trials to bear, and it’s yours to have a worldly-minded woman fora wife. GAvIN (indignantly): 1 did not say that, my lass. I said Jamie Barrie was worldly to Put your capers with the soldiers in a book, and to tell everybody that you had a bonnie face. Banpte. (roguishly): Well, haven't 1? Gavin (cantly): Some might think so. I have no definite opinion. Banbie (with flashing eyes): You haven't, my little minister ?- Then what did you mean by your compliments that evening when you came to meet me at Nanny Webster's well ? I'll have you up before Tammas Whamond and the session of the Kirk for deceit and false speaking. Gavin (laughing): Oh, but I love to rouse the Egyptian in your flashing black eyes! They glow with fire like Loch Lomond at sun- (demurely): And you, an Auld er, blethering like that toa woman who has been your wife fora year! You're what Tammas Haggart calls a ‘blaw-i'-my- lug.” GAvIN (who has learned her ways): Aman, even a minister, soon learns to manage his wife by telling her what she likes to hear. Tammas gave me that advice soon after I married you, and he is a wise man. Bansie: Tammas has been spoiled because Jamie Barrie put him in his book. The other day he spoke to me about ‘* me and Rab Burns and other leetary men," He was finding fault with your sermon at the time as hardly up to his standard, Gavin: Barrie may have spoiled Tammas a little, but Thrums as a whole is proud of his books. I think I understand my people better by reason of them. Bappie (sertous- by): Yes be has put in his books > the heroism of ; } ) > s a) poverty. It is so ‘Ty ts SO EASY TO PUT A easy to put a rich and titled hero in a RICH AND TITLED NERO IN book, but to show heroism in narrow and forbidding cir- cumstances, like Jess and Hendry’s, in ‘A Window in Thrums,” is a very difficult thing, Gavin: He does more than that. He shows you the compensations of poverty. All the books I used to study at the University made poverty a hateful thing—a blot on the fair earth, But Barrie's Thrums' weavers teach a different lesson. Bapsie: And we who live among them 85 know how much better off they are than many of the rich, I know I should be happier in Jess's cottage than I was in Lord Rintoul’s castle, Gavin (putting on his severe preacher's manner): It's the fear of the Lord that glorifies the life of rich and poor alike. BABaie (mis- chievousty): Lam not so sure of that. It's only the poor who fear the Lord; the rich patronize Him. I know, for I've lived with both kinds. Gavin (@ little shocked): We must not jest with serious things. Bannie (conf dently): There is nothing wrong in telling the truth. Barrie sees it clearer than wedo here. Itis absolute fidelity to their affections that makes people worth anything, whether they be rich or poor. That an “Onty THE POOR WHO vear THe Lorp; THE RICH patronize Him.” ‘THE GREAT WORLD MAS LAUGHRD AND CRIED over ‘Tue Winvow in Turums.’"” is why the great world has laughed and cried over the ‘* Window in Thrums.” They looked right into the heart of that little family and found everything clean, and genuine, and honest. Gavis (admiringly): Whata little philoso- pher I have married! And I thought she was only a half-wild Egyptian ! Bante: Ob, I'll be writing your sermons yet, and the session will wake up to listen. “He came SOLEMNITY.”” INTO MY STUDY WITH UNUSUAL comicbooks.com