The anti-monopolist., 1877-03-29
SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
BY FRANK LARCH.

/ SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
| By FRANK LARCH.
s.To know what this hfe's struggle
is all for, is more than | can fathom.
said Ella Murray to her friend, Fanny
Bonsall. ssYou know, my dear Fanny,
I have now been out OF school two
years and over, and it almost seems as
if life had no object. | see people
around me in poverty and distress,
struggling for bare existence. And
when they have attained good po-
sition in society, accumulated for
tune and accomplished the objects for
which they strove, they seem no hap
pier-indeed, less happy than when
they were in the heat of the battle.
There is father. for instance. Why,
! only few years ago, he was compar-
atively poor, and it was as much as
he could do to pay for Eds and my
schooling. He constantly complained
of the cost and seemed to be always in
trouble over the expenses Of his FAM
ily. Having now acquired his for
tune. he seems to be still more unhap-
py than of old. I'm sure I cannot
solve the problem. And Ned. too. He
has finished his education, been ad-
mitted to the bar and is now working
day and night, to do what To amass
! fortune as his father did before him.
! While he is not exactly unhappy, he
appears to be anything but contented,
and looks upon life as a perpetual
,, struggle, which it certainly is to him,
'sElla,'' exclaimed Mrs. Murray, en-
: tering the neat and tastily- furnished
parlor, sswhy are you not dressing for
!. tea? Here it is nearly three O'Clock
and our friends will be in here by four.
Go at once girls, and dress, instead OF
lounging your time away.
It is hardly to be wondered that Ella
) should fail to solve the problem OF
: life's object. Many older and wiser
heads have labored at this same ques-
, tion without ever arriving at solu.
: ton. Mr.. and Mrs. Murphy were hon.
ored citizens of the town of s, ,hav-
: ing acquired fair competency OF this
= worlds goods some years previous to
the time spoken OF They had done
: : their whole duty toward their two
! children, Ned and Ella, SO far as their
5 5 knowledge Of that duty could reach
u They had provided them with excel
Il lent educations and fair station IL
: life. Ned was working his way up IL
his profession and Eila-welI, she was
. doing absolutely nothing. Having fin
/ ished his education, the necessities OF
> her position did not require from he1
L any labor, nor had she ever beer
q taught to do any. Here was the true
e cause of her inability to solve TIT
4 4 great problem. She had no object II
4 life, and her parents had failed to teacl
1, her any except the usual one OF mar
"a rving, which is taught to most girls o
y the present day. Unfortunately how
ever, Ella was rather peculiar. am
p. was unable to persuade herself tina
le any one of the many gentlemen VIII
n were callers and visitors at the hous
r. would make for her such a husban
n as would render her life happy one
ut In their own room Fanny, who wa
le an old schoolmate and intimate frlen
Of of Elias, resumed the cOnversatiO
OF which had been interrupted by Mrs
an Murphy. 81 know, Ella, why you al
re unable to solve the problem, becaus
ne you have begun at the wrong end G
20 life. You have commenced at the ldl
rs end and should be just now at the IL
So dustrious end. Work, and work alon
nd will set you right"
ne sBut what need have | to work I!
II. replied Ella. ssFather has none
lst enough and does not need any hel
IS from me-
"a. "That is true, but work does NJ
ia mean simply doing something Whlc
dy brings coin into your purse, my de"
in Tt means persistent effort to accom-
3D. lish some particular thing. 1t ma
not profit you dollar; but it wi
es certainly go far towards solving th
nd problem for you.'
n Here the conversation ended. III
lis tea drinking and entertaining we
no gone through with. But all throue
,ty the evening Fanny words would rec'
MS to Ella and set her to thinking. Eve
OF at the time Of their retirement, ,thoue
$ nothing was said about it. the word
lty ssIt may not profit you dollar, but
Sc, will certainly go far towards solvli
ne. that problem for you,' would ring
w. her ears and were ever present. III
ALL next day was set for the terminate
ant of Fanny's visit and she departed.
tn- Then Ella was more than ever 10
III spirited and lonesome. Still she pc
GU Gu dered on those word: cit may n
lIy profit you a dollar etc. Sudden
IS breaking from her usual reverie o
ian day, she exclaimed, sI'H try-I'll s
aI- if Fanny is right Rising, she dc
'sIs ned her street dress and started /
ne the business street of the town.
lhe purchased an easel, some colors, sol
'lsh brushes and the various materials us
by artists in their work. She had
ways possessed a taste for art and h
chosen this as her work. When or
she had made up her mind, Ella v
ZEN. not the person to turn back. At fl
!. in she found herself beset by difficult
lice Her knowledge was meager, and
and had few facilities for overcomi
cry the obstacles in her path. But re
,red lutely and steadily she pursued
4Hd ri