The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01
DEBATE ON THE PORCH
John and Jane Amicably Discuss So
ciaI Problems of the Times.

present. While Jane is an optimistic Social
sst. The one grumbles by habit, and, be-
ing Republican also by habit. grumbes
because the Democrats have the admins
uration; the other was born with a CHEEKY
soul, and. being untrameled by any past
record of voting. can look ahead, can watch
the times and change with their shifting
seasons. john with a good education, has
had ambitions, and has, for the present,
laid them on the shelf He began man.
hoods career in that dreary profession,
the law But Jane. John, jr.. and the
bread and butter question" all combined
10 settle his fate for him. and he naturally
enough fell back upon that surest of all
foundations a trade, learned under his
father i'm his vacations. In consequence he
now finds work and wages. and has pros
pere1, any energetic young tradesman
is sure TO do if he is patient enough.
Jane is a rare wife. Though full of i'm
agination and versatile theorist, she is
herself living upsetter of long established
beliefs. especially in regard to what wom-
an is and ought TO be. For instance. she
Is a good cook, a model housewife, and
John. jr., il never neglected, yet she holds
advanced views" is "a lover of good fjc-
tiOn an active member of literary club,
believes in ''woman's rights" and in Sun
Il even popular in her own neighborhood,
and the beloved comrade of John, with
whom she clashes arms i'm differing opin-
ions vigorously enough-yes, she surely ex-
plodes some popular and lOng-eXpressed
false theories by simply living and develop
ing her own powers. Even during the
CoUrtship she talked TO John on the sub
iects of current interest just man
talks to man. and never dropped the good
habit after the bans. and the happy re-
suit is daily comradeship. gradual growth
IN mind and increased powers of enjoy
ment.
The following conversation between them
occurred very recently one hot evening
when supper was over. the evening tasks
carefully finished, baby John calmly sleep
ing and husband and wife trying TO find
Caclness out on their little front porch
John, Work and this insufferabe heat
enough TO make a man look with favor
even on the Coxey campaign. One begins
20 acquire a grudge either against society
in general or finally against the govern
ment in particular Seeing that the gov
eminent has a strong Democratic
complexion. think can consistently chime
an with the general complaint of hard
times etc One hears nothing but direful
predictions of war anarchy. ruin. really
doors to such an army of useless tramps
and disaffected human beings as are now
loose in our land"
Jane Now, John. don't be selfish. You
know every man has divine right TO live
somewhere. Nobody questions the right
of an animal to seek food, water. air and
space for itself why, then, not allow man
equal rights at least, with the brutes:
I grant you there troubles enough for
the very poor. and a mans mode and term
OF existence. in some conditions which our
times impose, are very open reasons Tor
much of the present dissatisfaction. Miners,
trench diggers. stokers on ships and some
other engine feeders are workers in hard
lines. There really is an army of unem-
ployed who cannot get regular employ
ment. But, in spite of the really hard
times for some, there is too much COM
planning among the well-to-do middle
classes and too little willingness to enjoy
the gifts which the gods send to them.
John: Well you see, conditions change;
mans desires multiply to keep pace with
the manufacture of luxuries and with the
useful inventions of the age. The display
and growing arrogance of the wealthy
classes make the intelligent and self-re>
specting workingmen envious and bitter.
Especially when it is the INSCRIPTIONS
shrewcness at the head of some favored
trust and not genuine brain which doc
tors our laws and gives a man millions.
1t is neither brain nor chance which makes
the immense fortunes of the day, Out WHY
old Satan is certainly below the surface
a sort of silent partner.
lane. "You know we'll enough l agree
about such possessions, but L have been
thinking lately about wealth in new
light and / begin to see what Emerson
means about the law of compensation.
Why John such wealth is really dis
tributed. and we even use the luXurles
bought by the rich Every time L go from
home 1 enjoy acres nominaly belonging
20 some of our capitalists, but which in
q genuine way my possessions. Fortu-
nately. fences are rapidly disappearing. or
they are undergoing the evolutionary pro-
cess of diminution TO such an extent that
they do not bar out the ownership of the
foot passengers. l laugh in my sleeve
when | see how these rich property GUS
1odians have become the servants of the
community they would withdraw from.
They must make us nice. smooth pave
ments TO walk on, must hire men to plant,
10 care for their estates. and then must
worry about the numerous failures of
their plans and the faults of their indif-
ferent employees. In the end they take lit
tie enjoyment and Immediately measure
each result not by standard of beauty
or excellence, but by a similar achieve
nent of some richer or more capable rival.
Nes. we can and do own their pretty land
scape the lights and shadows, the clean
sidewalks. the friendly trees, the fragrant
bloom and we see the real beauty oftener
and more truly than do most of these
nOney-snatchers and care-worn planners.
John: While there may some truth in
that. yet We are sadly left ont when it
comes to their rich interiors, their ban
quets and their gay social life. 1magina-
ton can do little for you here, it seems
10 me-"
Jane: We'll imagination for once plays
Us Il scurvy trick in that il leads us to
fancy such accessories mean happiness
To me tiresOme calls dull receptions, a
C.ose. ovorheated existence by night, a
listIess droning life by day do not seem
an enviable part 10 I'LL even in rich rooms
and at a full table To the head of the
family too often do the cares OF danger
Gus Speculations and the weight of an
Cver-rich banquet bring ghosts TO haunt
the brain and drive away the sweet re-