Nevada County picayune., 1889-02-20
ONE.SIDEDNESS.
MABl E. SPENCER.

That is an awkward word. as
 very well see, but it is truthful
 word. and therefore it suits me.
 have been looking at the moon this last half hour. l wish yon could see it from my perch. High up over the valley, an the hillside, my window permits no interference with vision, and the grand orb rising full to the north of east, has glory that you can not guess if you see it over level lands. All the vast valley is full of the shine of it, and it flushes very white in the mill pond and bends of the creeks. Using an opera glass, l see the valleys and hills of the moons III sharp outline. Not cloud or film of vapor is in the air, and no leaves obtrude on the trees. But no matter, with magnificent dignity the golden orb has risen up above the grove and looks in at me above all the world. It is q strange companion ship. 1 do not wonder the Greek boy fell in love with the moon. All night it will reign among the hills and valleys of half the world. What a superb sight it will be when our Californians get their huge telescope built that will make it appear as if less than 100 miles away. This will be better than 240, ,000 miles, as 1t is to our eyes. Night after night l have watched from my high outlook, both summer and winter. 1 have felt the passion of Keats when he sings:
 To. from the opening clouds, I saw emerge
 The loy-iest moon that silvered OCT,
 shell for Neptune's gohjet; she did
 So pa-sionately bright, my dazzlcd soul,
 Comlningling with her argent spheres, did roll Through clear and cloudy, even when she went At last into a dark and vapory tent.
 But one thing l can never forget, in all these nights of admiration and raptgazing, l have never seen but one side of the moon. Look as long and often as l may, it Is just the same half of the moon that it always turned to me. It is impossible that a woman's curiosity should be satis- fled in that way. want to know what the other side of the moon Is like, l want to look at it. But, my dear" says John, "nobody ever did see it, That is just why wish to see 1t, Hut then nobody can see it, or ever will see it, for the moon moves about Us just fast enough to keep that one face turned toward us. How aggravating. l can not think of any way to get around the moon nor do just now sec how l shall make 1t turn around. But l give you due notice, l am not satisfied.
 ''It is well enough as it is," says John. Do you know, my dear, it is like good many other things  one-sldod. Folks opinions, for in- stance. There are lots of views in the world. like your view of the moon, that see only one side of the question, l get such views in the streets on political matters, and in the church on religious matters; and nothing provokes people more than to have things turned around so as to show the other side, l wouldn't wonder if you got badly put out if you should see the other side of the moon. It may be a very sorry lock- ing affair, that would quite take away the romance of this side." As if l did not know my own mind; but men have such one-sided views of woman's opinions!
 Here" says John, reaching me out a paper, there is one of the views l was speaking of-a badly one-sided mess, l am sIre. A preacher of great notoriety insists on it the world is not whit wiser nor better than in Solomon's time; and he quoted Solomon as the wsest man that ever lived. should like to see Solomon alive and in that mans pull pit. Don't yon think the people would march out in a white heat ! Just let him read some of his Prov erbs !" About women, John ! about having found one man in 10000, but not descent woman in the crowd, Shameful!" "Exactly. my dear. People won't stand such stuff nowadays. There are women now, and find oaes, tooi and they run the churches; and for that mat ter run everything else, as Solomon would find in a hurry" But the