Over the mantel-shelf was a seaweed picture in a frame of shells, bearing
the inscription, ‘_Unity Hall_, _Meeting-Place of the Order of Present
Perfection_.’ On a table, waiting to be hung in place, was an impressive
sort of map about four feet square. This, like many of the other
ornaments in the room, was a trifle puzzling, and seemed at first, from
its plenitude of coloured spots, to be some species of moral propaganda
in a state of violent eruption. It proved, however, on closer study, to
be an ingenious pictorial representation of the fifty largest cities of
the world, with the successful establishment of various regenerating
ideas indicated by coloured discs of paper neatly pasted on the surface.
The key in the right-hand corner read—
Temperance Blue.
Single Tax Green.
Cremation Orange.
Abolition of War Red.
Vegetarianism Purple.
Hypnotism Yellow.
Dress Reform Black.
Social Purity Blush Rose.
Theosophy Silver.
Religious Liberty Magenta.
Emancipation of Woman Crushed Strawberry.
A small gold star, added to the coloured spot, hovering over the name of
a city, was explained, in the lower left-hand corner, as denoting the
fact that the Eldorado face-powder was exclusively used there, and that
S. Cora Grubb was the sole agent for the Pacific coast.
Joseph’s coat faded into insignificance in comparison with the city of
Mrs. Grubb’s present residence, which appeared to be a perfect hot-bed of
world-saving ideas, and was surrounded by such a halo of spots that it
would have struck the unregenerate observer as an undesirable place in
which to live, unless one wished to be broken daily on the rack of social
progress.
This front room was Mrs. Grubb’s only parlour. The seven benches were
rather in the way and seemingly unnecessary, as the lady attended
meetings morning, noon, and night in halls hired for that purpose; but
they gave her a feeling of security, as, in case one of her less
flourishing societies should be ejected from its hall, or in case she
should wake up in the middle of the night and want to hold a meeting of
any club when all the halls were closed, the benches in the parlour would
make it possible without a moment’s loss of time.
The room connecting with this was the family banquet-hall and kitchen in
one, and as Mrs. Grubb’s opinions on diet were extremely advanced, it
amply served the purpose.
There were three bedrooms upstairs, and the whole establishment was
rather untidy in its aspect; but, though it might have been much cleaner,
it is only fair to say that it might also have been much dirtier.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account