The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-07-24
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"What fools we mortals be-"
1t is often a question whether Shakes
peare fully realized the unbounded truth
fulness of some of his immortal sayings,
which, in many respects, may apply more
ittingly to the mortals of to-day thar in
the days of Shakespeare.
1t is true. this age is far removed by de-
velopment of mind throughout every con-
ceivable department of life from the age in
which that brilliant ritter lived. And the
question naturally arises: do mortals of to-
day, surrounded as they are by all the pos
sibilities, and realities of three centuries
advancement, still possess the weakness of
that word fool within their natures?
Could all men in this age have descended
from an equal mind level, or an equal mind
elevation of Shakespeare the generation of
fools might have been extinct, but, even so,
it is more likely they would nothave been,
Cor be it noted, the poetieal William said
''We mortals." And as in that age, SO in
this, with probably an equal development
in this particular as in all other depart
ments of human technicalities.
Did men in those days ever delve so tire
lessly, SO eagerly, SO greedily after vain
pursuits of happiness? Did women to
crafty their tastes and ~fancies, go to the
extreme length of sensible limits as do
some of the fashionable women of this age?
Whether they did or did not it is not our
intention to consider for it is to the people
of this age and generation that we would,
for the present, direct our attention. And
from the standpoint of one of them regret
fully acknow ledge, What fools we NOR
tails be-
Let us consider wherein mortals particu-
larry possess this qualiication-many,
truly. from their mistaken ideas of pleasure
which when attained, satisieth not. Now
in this midsummer season, let us for a
moment take an imaginary round of some of
New jerseys well-known pleasure resorts.
Leaving Woodstown by way of W. J.R. r.
suppose we stop of at one of her most
widely known retreats, Gloucester, and
take in all the influences, as many do, of
all of her varied amusements, from Billy
Thompson's .'disorderly"house to Billy
Thompson's gambling race-track. Or, sup
pose we were to cross to Philadelphia and
take a cheap excursion to Lincoln Park,
that much talked ofpleasure ground, where
licensed corruption is not only playing
havoc with those who frequent the place
from across the Delaware, but more espe-
cially with the farm hands in the imme-
date peighborhood. who take their hard
earned wages and squander it for that
which makes them worse than fools. Then
again, suppose we 60 on one of the Sunday
excursions to Atlantic City, where licensed
infamy is buster to dav than any other in
the seven. What fools are men to tempt
the wrath of the infinite powers by thus
desecrating Gods holy day. At those
places we almost fear TO tarry, so will re-
turn to our pleasant verandas in Woods
town. Spending a few hours here, what
foolish thing do we observe most? This
the mistaken idea of our beardless youth,
who should yet be tied to their mothers
apron strings. affecting the enjoyment of a
mouthfnl of tobacco, or of its twin brother,
a cigar. Of the dozens of young men who
pass a given point on a pleasant evening,
almost nine-tenths of them are cultivating
Inis worse than foolish practice.
LOCKING into the workshops or among
the farming communities we see others
who, through their eagerness to possess
bury the finer qualities of their
that they may waste no valuable
time in their vain Cd pursuit. bat turn
their undivided attention to the aecumula-
ton of gain.
Directing our gaze into the home circle,
who can but recall a foolishly rude or bois-
ferrous act, done in real good fellowship, it's
true, toward Z friend or companion? or who
can but recall those who seem to turn
paramount attention toward CRAFTY
ing their affections until their conduct
causes the remark of mortals being fools.
In considering some of these things, who
of us but can remember a time-had we
nOrtVnfTy-Wh Wa wnnld art mora