Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-03-13
UNCLE EBEN'S CLOCK.

1t is a tall, old-fashioned clock, some
what dingy as to its ancient red paint
and somewhat faded as to its once re
splendent concentrations. A gilt ball
missing from one of its spires, and it
weights have broken down so man
times that the cords are much shortene
by repeated tying.
1t is said to have existed three year
without case; but the works becam
clogged BY broom driven particles 0
sturdy Vermont soil, and the weights a
they slowly descended to the kitchen
floor, were liable to deal unmercifu
thumps upon unoffending objects; 81
Grandmother Palmer did extra spinning
and bought a smart covering for the bus,
timepiece. The dress is not the man
neither is it the clock; but correct APP
parel generates self-respect, and self
respect begets good behavior; according
ly, what had been giddy, go-as- you
please time-server speedily developed
into correct and responsible timekeep.
er. 1t has kept the family time fol
nearly one hundred years.
If + tell you that this worthy centen-
arian is at least as devoted to the Pal
mer family as though it were a canary
bird or tortoise shell cat, L shall doubt
less be laughed to scorn and sentenced
to oblivion or to lunatic asylum without
further hearing. Nevertheless, L will
publicly avow my convictions, and sub
NIT to my fate.
Won will say, of course, with supreme
contempt for my presumptious ignor-
ance, that man is not allowed to create,
only to combine, to disintegrate, or to
change in form the creations already
existing; therefore, the clock, being an
invention of man, must be devoid of per-
cipience and volition, and incapable of
feeling of any sort.
Very good, my friend. L dare say
that you will cheerfully declare your in
ability to create that property, SO little
understood, called force; but will admit
that force often comes at your bidding.
You are allowed to make such changes
and combinations as to produce marvel
Gus degree of power. There is, perhaps,
a latent consciousness as well as latent
force. Its workings are not understood,
consequently they are not believed In,
unless in crude fashion. by the heather.
or in frightfully materialistic fashion by
some coldblooded ATHEIST.
To say that intelligence cannot exist
in our world without brain, spinal
cord, and a circulation of the blood, is
blasphemous. 1t is to say that Divinity
itself must have cerebrum and cere-
bellum, lungs and heart. or it is to deny
spiritual existence altogether.
It is not considered a violent suppo-
sition by the Christian world that dis
embodied spirits occasionally honor us
with their presence; although perhaps
the majority will doubt the power OF
these ghosts or eidolon to manifest them
selves. Inconsistently enough, the most
ardent spiritualist will fatty deny the
DO ssibility of an intelligence existing in
SO highly organized corporeity as an
exemplary clock.
For myself, I am inclined to concede
to all created integers certain degree OF
intelligence. Indeed, since we cannot
remember the time when we were insent-
iient objects, I claim that it is impossible
to prove the existence of insentient OBJ
jects.
Let us discuss few of the so-called
unconscious forces. We will begin with
the weather, the appropriate introduce
ton to every well-conducted converse
ton. Most people consider the weather
a blind tool in the hand OF the Creator.
They think it a great sin to grumble
=abont snow-storm in September, or a
frost in the middle OF June. They say
that the One who holds the deep in the
hollow of his hand has ordered these
things to be. Submissive folio Sers of
Job, are not also the hairs of your heads
numbered? Shall you, therefore, be held
sblameless if you insist upon turning
winter into summer, and compel your
household to endure the rigors of New
England january without the comfort
of fire? Perhaps your family deserve
to freeze: il may be all for the best IN the
end. and a part of the Divine pfan' but
that has nothing to do with your accoun-
tah;l;tv Inst SO with the weather. /
.hold.it accountable for laundering In
1nid.winter. and for raining when Sun
day school has just started out on pic
Lie. For all that I can prove to the con-
trary the joint stock company Known asl
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