Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-10-20
ROUGH ON PLATO.
How Old Billson Rejected the Teachings
of the Great PhiInannhar.

How Old Billson Rejected the Teachings
of the Great Philosopher.
1t is well enough to say with the an
clients that 1--WE may shoot at the stars
and though we know that our arrows
can not reach them. yet they go higher
than if we aimed lower" What diff.
ference does that make? It makes no
difference how high they go, they come
down without having accomplished
any thing. The aim that is low enough
to kill a deer is better than a bead
drawn on Venus. 1t may not be SO
grand in thought but it is more useful
in result.
Old man Billson's son Dan is close
student. Billson, naturally and con-
sequently excusably proud of his son,
allowed the young man to remain in
his room, deeply covered with the
grand rubbish Of ancient wisdom.
During the busy season, when every
hoe in the cotton patch was worth its
weight in silver, Billson's neighbors
would ask:
"Why don't you make Dan help you
with your cottonP"
"He can't spare the time from his
studies"
''Studying is all well enough, but do
you think that it would hurt him much
to drop his books for day or two and
take up hoeP The grass is gaining
on you.
The old man sighed. He was max
ing a great sacrifice but his son would,
in after years, bless him for it. One
day the old man reverentially entered
the sons room. ~ ~
'sSit down, father"
The old man sat down and, pointing
to an open volume that lay on the
young mans desk, asked:
what book is thatP"
"Plato's philosophy"
studying it. | reckonP"
Eyes; haven't studied any thing else
for some time"
Full of interestin' readin' Ireckon. )"
'As grand thought as was ever ex-
pressed"
'.Ain't law, is itP"
80, no."
s.Medicine, l reckonP"
''No, it's philosophy
Eyes, but what is philosophy"
"O-er-well, it's er-it's the-the
soul of great man, shaped into
words.
"Ah, hah. What does this here fell
Ter Plato propose to l'arn your"
ITO be great, to look high.
Eyes, but does he tell you what to
look at?''
80, er--yes, he-that is, he tells
you to purify your soul. y
''Ah. hah. but what does he tell you
to do with the body?'
The body! Why, he scorns the
body"
"Ah, hah. Don'tappear to have much
use for it, ehp"
''He is higher than all things physi-
cal.'
Don't say nothin' about fox tail and
wire grass, | reckon"
''Of course not. !"
.'Sorter silent on cotton, too, I
reckon"
..Why, father, what can you mean?"
'Wail, I'll tell you. Amt got nothin'
agin Ponto-''
PLATO" the student suggested.
Eyes, [ amt got nothin' agin him,
you understand and reckon he may be
Il putUF ClCNSI 1cllOWs Dool tSlA w
what's fact. He amt worth his salt
when the cotton's in the grass; SO, Dan,
ies grab that hoe hangin' in the tree
out thar an scorn the grass an Farm
the cotton to look up"
Great goodnessr" the afrighted
young man exclaimed, Il can't stand
it out there.
30, but you mustn't pay no attention
to the body. The sun won't hurt your
soul. Come on
II really"
"Wan, your grub stops. Been
feedin' old Whut' s-name long enough.
Comin'P'
Il would, but-''es
Gail right, grub stops, al you'll
have to pay rent for this room. .
The young man sighed. arose and
followed his father. Two hours later
a painting and perspiring Platonist,
welding a heavy hoe, was seen strik-
ing at the fox-tail grass ArkGnsatc
Traveller.
IN THE FAR WEST.