A TWENTIETH CENTURY HONEYMOON.
At Fenwick Hall, in the early twilight of their wedding day, we find our
hero and heroine, the bride and groom, now husband and wife. They are
sitting side by side, hand in hand, looking forth from the large
southern window of that magnificent tower room, hitherto known as the
private retreat of Fern Fenwick. The outlook from that window was a
revelation of beauty, as perfect as a dream of fairy land.
As the twilight deepened, high in the southern sky, the full-orbed
splendor of a September moon, glorified with its soft radiance, the
marked beauty of the Capital City--the Pearl City of the republic. From
the mysterious depths of stilly night, intensifying the soothing charm
of moonlight; there came softly stealing through the open window, the
balmy airs of evening, laden with the fragrant breath of a thousand
flowers. From the Aqueduct Bridge to Fort Foote, a long line of
brilliant light, with many a graceful curve, marked the pathway of the
broad Potomac, whose unruffled bosom shone like a mirror of burnished
silver. Stretching across the valley from distant heights, a fleecy veil
of enchantment woven in the loom of mist, etherealized city and river,
dome and monument, tower and steeple, cottage and castle; adding a weird
beauty to the magnificent array of public buildings, which owned the
Capitol and the Library as chief. Above and beyond all else in its
unapproachable glory, the Dome of the Capitol in the mellow, hazy
moonlight, shone resplendent as a matchless crown to the architecture
of the Occident!
Responsive to the spell woven by the fairy fingers of moonlight, in
which soul and sense sink to the spiritual repose of that serene calm,
where in silence, happiness of the purest type best expresses itself;
these newly wedded lovers, living in the inner world, lost to the outer,
remained motionless and absorbed in the ecstasy of contemplation.
Fern was the first to break the silence. She said: "My dear Fillmore!
Tell me, is this the beginning of some reign of enchantment? The
culmination of love's dream? Are we waking or dreaming? Can it be
possible, that this glorious moonlight, so auspiciously ushering in our
honeymoon, is typical and indicative of its endurance, of its unalloyed
brightness?"
"My wife! Chosen one of all women! Your devoted lover for six years;
having passed the stage of love at first sight, hopeless love,
worshiping love from afar, patient love, love requited and love
rewarded; I am now so happy, so unspeakably optimistic, that I accept
without question the happy augury of enchanted moonlight, as being truly
prophetic. Besides, having a wife so noble, so good and so wise, to make
it possible; how could our honeymoon be other than the most delightful
ever known to the history of love? You may trust me, dear heart, to do
my best towards making that prophecy come true!"
"In discussing honeymoons, even my own; I may not be permitted to trust,
in what is given to me to know. As a maiden of twenty-six summers, now
your wife; I know very well that a husband who is just, loving, noble
and true, is the most important of all factors, in securing the
perfection of the ideal honeymoon. That six-year ordeal of loyal,
patient love, which you have so thoughtfully analyzed and classified,
has made you very dear to me! In overcoming this ordeal so victoriously,
you have displayed a strength of character which has commanded my
admiration. You have been unselfish, courageous, persistent of purpose,
trustful, thoughtfully sagacious, perfectly trustworthy, and strictly
honorable. For these characteristics, so like those possessed by my
father; I love you more than for all else. Since crowned with conscious
life, my father has been to me, the standard of an ideal man! If ever a
daughter worshipped a father; I was that daughter. In character, you, of
all the men I have met, are the nearest like him. Stronger words of
praise than these, the lips of a proud, loving wife, could not utter!
Now Fillmore! My dear husband! I am going to kiss you, as an antidote;
lest the fervor of my speech, should make you vain, just a little!"
"The antidote seems to work like a charm! Yet, a speech so full of such
crushing praise, coming from the lips of the loveliest and most
thoughtful of wives, is very provocative to vanity. It makes my case so
desperate, that it really requires heroic treatment. To make the
antidote effective, I should say, increase the quantity of the dose;
administer very frequently!
"But seriously, my dear wife! I am overwhelmed by the tribute of praise,
which you have paid to my character! To me, the character of Fennimore
Fenwick, is nobleness personified! To have my own continually compared
with one so exalted, is a very trying ordeal. I tremble for the
consequences! I am now so happy, that in the very selfishness of my
love for you, I may shatter your ideal. To disappoint you; would be to
forfeit my paradise! In times of trial, I shall appeal to you as the
noblest and best of wives, to use your highest gifts of occult power to
assist me in retaining your respect, admiration and love. Meanwhile, my
dear wife! I shall cherish in my heart, the memory of your tribute, as a
talisman, as a perpetual inspiration to live up to my highest ideal!
Whatever happens, I shall be myself."
"That, Fillmore, has the true ring of your natural nobility! Be
yourself, and we shall be lovers forever! With that question settled;
under the inspiration of this lovely moon, let us commence the
construction of our castles in the air. In marrying a woman with a great
fortune, you have pledged yourself to share equally with her, the
pleasures, cares and responsibilities of her riches. Remembering, that
henceforth, we are joint trustees, under my father's direction, for the
wise use and distribution of this wealth. It becomes our duty to make
competent and well-considered plans for the work. What say you, my dear
husband! Shall we not do well, if we devote a generous share of our
honeymoon to the making, development and perfection of these plans?"
"What you propose, my dear Fern, will make me very happy! I shall be
delighted with the opportunity to relieve you of a portion of the burden
of your responsibilities, by sharing them. How, and when shall we
commence the plan making?"
"Before undertaking the plans, it will be necessary for us to ascertain
just how much we are worth, financially speaking. For this purpose, we
must make a complete and carefully classified inventory of our
properties, both real and personal. This important task, we will take up
tomorrow, working deliberately until it is finished. It is quite likely
to prove a long one, bristling with interesting data, suggestive and
educative, as to the extent of your newly assumed responsibilities.
"After the inventory is complete, we will each in favor of the other,
make and execute a will, conveying the property described by the
inventory. Then, we shall be prepared for the accidents, emergencies and
unexpected changes of a mortal existence.
"Having disposed of the wills, we will return to the inventory. Going
over it without haste, item by item. While considering each one, I will
give its history; then, we will make a short note, embodying our
individual ideas as to the best present or future disposition of that
particular piece of property. These notes to be attached to the
inventory. By the time we have finished this work, you will have
acquired such a firm mental grasp of our financial situation, that you
can advise me wisely, or act alone, as the occasion may demand."
"Pardon me, sweetheart! What of our coming conference with your father,
Fennimore Fenwick? Is that to be postponed until we have finished the
preliminary work, which you have outlined?"
"Yes, my lover! I would not have you take part in the consultation,
without first being equipped with this important knowledge. Besides, it
was so understood, by father and myself, when we arranged to have the
conference take place on the afternoon of the fifth day after the
wedding. There will be plenty of time. You are perfectly satisfied with
the arrangement, are you not?"
"More than satisfied, my good angel! I can hardly realize my good
fortune! I am eager to begin the work. What a delightful time we shall
have! To have you introduce me to our wealth, by the way of this unique,
honeymoon program; is something very like a fairy story! I could not
devise or imagine anything more delightful!
"Six years ago, at the time of our meeting, I was hopeful and ambitious.
My heart was filled with an earnest longing for the fulfillment of my
one great purpose in life. But, how to accomplish that purpose, was
hidden from me by the veil of the future. Then, I never dreamed that
waiting behind the veil, love was the goddess of good fortune, who was
to guide me to success! It is the unexpected which always happens!
Thinking not of self; destiny smiled on my unselfishness, and kindly led
me to my fate! Having met you, I dared to love! Discovering that you
cherished a purpose in life like my own, I dared to hope! Trusting to
love, as the messenger of destiny; in the unalloyed happiness of this
glorious honeymoon, I have reached the goal of all my ambitious hopes!
When I reflect on the magical change of my environments, and the new
career in life which has opened for me; I can appreciate the full
significance of the miracle which love has wrought!
"Knowing the importance of unselfishness on the part of the individual,
as a necessary factor in the successful co-operation of the multitude; I
perceive that selfishness must be overcome by a comprehensive system of
education, organized for that particular purpose. The organization of
such a system must be accomplished by a small number of enthusiasts, who
are willing to devote their lives to it. This means, that they must be
people of wealth and leisure.
"As an evidence of appreciation of responsibility, for my stewardship
of the wealth which you have bestowed upon me; I wish now to declare my
purpose. It is, to devote the remainder of my life to this educational
work. It now comes to me, that this is the work described for us, in
your letter, written to me over thirty months ago; where, in a vision of
the future, you saw us united, side by side, hand in hand, fighting
successfully against the poverty breeding hosts of selfishness. From the
innermost depths of my being, I rejoice over this most fortunate
opportunity, which permits me to take an active part in such an
important work! My heart swells with pride and happiness, when I feel
and know that I am to have the honor of standing by your side, in the
fore-front of the fight!
"I can now appreciate the utility of my long apprenticeship on the
co-operative farm. In no other way, could I have been so well prepared
for leadership in the educational movement. I have learned just what
agricultural people need to make them perfect citizens of a perfected
republic. A republic of peace, without a police; without the burden of a
standing army, to menace and oppress its citizens, because they are
already a law unto themselves, at peace with all the world. When I
analyze the influences which have inspired and led me, throughout this
extraordinary course of training; I recognize the action of a dominant,
guiding mind; the far-seeing wisdom of my noble friend and benefactor,
Fennimore Fenwick. To him, and to the spirit world, I shall ever be
profoundly grateful! Is it not a most beautiful illustration, of the
power of spirits to co-operate with mortals?"
"Very true and rightly spoken, my prince of husbands! I too, am glad,
that during the six years of your preparatory training, destiny's
messenger--love--has guided you so wisely. With your intuitive nature, I
am not surprised that you have divined so clearly, the general scope of
the life work, which my father has planned for us. At the coming
conference, he is to unfold the details of the work. Let us well employ
the intervening time, in doing the preliminary work; which, as you have
so well said, will give us an added relish for the enjoyment of our
delightful honeymoon."