New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-28


The man-how well we all know him-who
in the spring grumbled because it wasn't sum-
mer and then in the summer grumbled because
it was so hot, will soon have a chance to grumble
az tho departure of summer and the advent OF
autumn. 1t is not however. of the grumber
that we would speak here, though the social
function which that parsonage subserves might
furnish a most interesting topic for discussion.
lie Is the vocal expression OF that discontent-
divine we call it when we wish TO flatter our
sclycs-whch lies latent in our lives, even when
all things are going we'll with us. The grumbler
Is. indeed, enacting part though perhaps not
very noble part, in the tragi-comedy OF human
life; and it doesn't do, therefore, to take him
too seriously, especially as he often finds it
hard to utter his lines with the proper pessl-
mistic whine, on account Of the deep content
in his heart.
Diminishing the grumbler then, let us con-
template Nature this morning. Summer IS
diving; but she is concealng the fact by all
the articles which Nature puts at her command
The last days of summer are days OF accentu-
ated effect. The spirit of the season calls upon
us to look on lusty exhibitions of growth in
plant and tree there is wealth OF color IN
the flowers that bloom now which is well cal
culated to make us forget the coming season
of decay and DEATH And IL that were not
enough TO cnchain our thought, there are the
fruits Of all kinds. many of them already in
tao perfection of their maturity, mutely asking
us to think well Of the season Of sunshine and
warmth "Think not of change and decay"
cries the spirit Of the season and as she speaks
a.. 60, tkn,tu nh fhara oro
tears in her voice: "Think rather of the
Astounding life you see about you, with its
beauty of form and color and WIKI its evidences
of accomplished purpose, in the glorious fruit
age OF the year Look upon me; am | not
yet lovely? And have not wrought faithfully
and well in the great vineyard OF Nature|
And mute though the appeal Is il must touch
the heart of all who have eyes TO see. and
mind ~ observe, the wondrous processes OF
life and growth. The thoughts OF change and
decay will inevitably come, in the days when
autumn gamers Natures stores. But in the
meanwhile We would fix our minds on the COM
pletions Of summer,
The setting SUM- and music at the close.
As the last taste Of sweets. Is sweetest last
Writ in remembrance more than things long past.
But this ouescent delight will not last long
The rumble Of change will soon be heard, and
the fitting homewsrd will soon begin. Men
and women who, at the beginning Of the sea-
son. loudly declared that they could commune
with Nature forever, who were ready 70 for
swear all the artificial pleasures of civilization.
begin to feel longing for those pleasures
greater than they would care TO confess. To
most people tho season OF vacation, with It's
delights and disappointments, will soon end,
and they will again take their appointed places
in the treadml Of the workaday world and
all things will 90 OH az before. Tears for the
lows that are nod, and then newborn hopes for
the joys that are to comc-this is the scheme
of human life. 4" IL man were constant he were
pcrfect.n exclaims the poet. But. alas and
alockaday Nature herself is not constant
and even life is simply an infinite succession
Of changes And that is why any philosophy
of life is SO hard TO formulate. The happiness
We so noisily went out 10 seek at the begin
ming OF the season in all likelihood eluded Ms
But oftentimes memory will bring its image
before us. rs we recall the days that are past
through the gathering haze of time. And we
feel that somehow we must have enjoyed hap
niness after all, without knowing it. Thus it
is always in this mysterious glimpse OF con-
seriousness we call life the arid present is en-
riched by visions vouchsafed by memory and
hope and under the influence of their spell
existence is not bounded by the infinitesimal
moment of consciousness. but stretches back
ward and forward into the illimitable vistas
of eternity.