The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1893-02-11
Corner Chat.

A gentleman who was evidently III
a very Respondent mood the other
day, said: 1T seems to me that life is
but farce. and yet we make daily
struggles against great odds TO main
tain the farce. For example take
my life. have no great responsible
ties to worry me, have neither wife
nor children. no debts TO burden me
and sufficient means. with proper
economy to keep me without further
labor for a good many years, and
still / can't see any good reason why
1 should continue this dull weary
people nearly every day of my life
and if l should chance to meet
strangers they are no more interest
ing to me after the first moments of
conversation than my friends, whose
every thought, almost. l can easily
outrun. l eat my meals, per-
form my daily labor and occasion
ally call on my Lady friends in the
evening or stay at home and read
my favorite authors, and then retire
to a sound and refreshing sleep phys
ically, but the old feeling of mental
WEAKNESS at everything returns as
l have dispatched my breakfast. 1
have endeavored to find an inspira-
tion in life in the country, in the
large cities of the East, at the sea-
side resorts, in the theatre, in books,
in nearly everything that l could
think of or my friends could suggest,
hut carry the same feeling of in
difference and retain it even in the
midst of the greatest excitement and
attractions of New York, Boston and
Washington City. In my earlier
days 1 flattered myself it was the
proper thing to appear blase; that it
was common to display an interest
and enthusiasm in anything. 1 had
often heard that people will general
ly take a man at his estimate and
thought it best to begin with the
idea that l knew all that was worth
knowing. l fear now that what
affected at first has actually taken
place, and that my mind has gathered
to itself all that it's powers will ena-
BILE it to contain or accomplish, and
that it is actually dying, while my
body relieved Of the enormous drain
to keep the brain in it's full vigor, is
experiencing increased health and
Hardly ten minutes had passed
when stopped to talk to another gen
tleman on my way home, who carried
two bundles under his arm and had
his pockets sticking out as if they
were stuffed full Of something. After
our usual greetings were over he
said in reply to my questions: eyes,
1 have Just returned from Louisville, !
and have brought back a small re-
membrance for everyone of my fami |
ly. I couldn't think of going into
the house without anything, and to
see their eyes sparkle with delight |
on my entrance amply repays me
for the outlay and trouble Of carry
ing the bundles. l pity men who
have nothing to live for, no aim in
life and no family to provide for and
make happy. Why my mind is con-
running on those dependent
on me for support and pleasure and
it is an ms nirdtion to plan something
TO surprise them into smi lies of glad
ness. I believe if l were thrown on
an island with my family, like the
family in "Swiss Family Robinson"
would still find in everything about
ne cause for gratitude and joy.
hink the secret of being happy is in
constant application TO congenial
asks. Idleness is mental as well
Is physical destroyer. We never
grow weary while engaged in work
n which we actually find a pleasure.
Of course everyone is not happily
suited to his occupation, but he can
1t least, if the father of family,
make his occupation secondary to
,ne great end Of life that Of finding
lis happiness in the happiness of
,thers by the use of the money earn
ID in his occupation. We all know