The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-11
SHELLS.
By WILLIE DAVIS.

Our life is but q shell. This lnvOl
yes the idea of circumference. Per
NIT me to ask an early question. Il
what kind of shell do we find our
selves encased? In a shell as pur'
and beautiful as those of the Indial
Ocean? They owe their beauty t,
the waters Of tropical climate. We
the human pearls owe ours to tht
waters OF knowledge which flow from
the schools in the land of the free.
Pearls are used to adorn, to beauti
fy. Why. then, shall we not Adorr
and beautify our homes with pearl.
of learning.
The season Of the fishery for pearl.
commences in February and lasts
about three months. The boats used
are open and vary in size. They put
out at night, usually at ten O'Clock,
on q signal gun being fired from a
government vessel which serves as q
guard vessel and also as light
house. Each boat is allowed thirteen
men and ten divers. The pearls are
obtained by these divers descending
to the bottom of the sea and collect
ing them in a net bask ct, five Of the
divers descending while the other
five are ascending. In this way the
work is performed very rapidly.
The season Of the fishing for pearls
of knowledge commences about the
first of September and lasts about
nine months. The boats used in this
fishery are called schools. They
vary in size, also. Their signal is
given at nine in the morning instead
Of ten at night. These boats are open
and free to all who will enter and
obey the rules. Shall we enter these
boats and become pearls of value to
the world or shall we not: but emulat-
ing the snail, become slow, worthless,
creatures with no interest in life?
The latter will surely be the result
if we do not enter and collect all the
valuables We can during the time
allotted us.
We are surrounded by a shell OF
circumstances and controlling jim
fuences, born of contact with nature
and her productions, which impel us
toward good or evil as the preponder-
ating influence tends. The idea of
shells is universal. They are found
everywhere. Shells mean abode or
domain. They are synonyms of
security and earthly happiness. To
illustrate let us enter the domain Of
the river or sea and ascertain the
value of shells to the innumerable in
habitants thereof. The turtle, the
crab, the star fish, each has its shell
for the protection of its body; and
there enjoys security and all the
happiness it is capable of. But let
us look at the highest aspects of the
subjects of shells. What is human
existence but SHELF Do not con-
ceive the idea that shells mean that
we are SO surrounded as to lose our
happiness or freedom, or that we can
not 90 forward in the exercise Of q
free will to the accomplishment Of
any purpose which may be approved
by our Judgment.
Shells logically mean q surround
ing, whether big or little. We all
move in shells. Some go forward in
the shells of prosperity and touch
the outer rim OF the worlds lucre,
while others are content to struggle
within the shell of q scanty existence.
There is no end Of shells. We are in
the shell of hope or the shell Of des-
pondency, in the shell of prosperity
or the shell Of adversely, We are in
the shell Of happiness or the shell Of
sorrow. Whether we engage in bust
ness or follow some profession. awake
or asleep, in the school room at play,
or in our pleasant house, shells are
omnipresents with US.
Shells embrace society, that is We
move in circles, which is another
name for shells. 1t is enough to sum
up this essay to say that from the shell
Of the grave the emancipated spirit
shall be released to enjoy that larger
sphere not bounded by any shell that
human vision has yet seen and that is
known only SO that good Being who
laid the foundation Of the earth in a
shell circumscribing the limits thereof.
"From birth to death it is shell,
Surrounding us at every turn;
The ups and downs. who can tell,
For all are merged in Fortunes urn.