Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-07-27
A UNIVERSAL BEaaAR.
A Picture Drawn by Ralph Waldo EmeI
son which II True to Life.

A Picture Drawn by Ralph Waldo Elmer
son which is True to Life.
The youth, of course, is an innovator
by the fact Of his birth. There he stands,
newly born on the planet, universal
beggar, with all the reason OF things, one
would say, on his side. In his fret con-
sideration how to feed, clothe and warm
himself, he is met by warnings on every
hand that this thing and that thing have
owners, and he must go elsewhere.
Then he says, "If am born on the earth,
where is my part? Have the goodness,
gentlemen Of this world, to show me my
wood-lot, where l may fell my wood, my
field where to plant my corn, my pleasant
ground where to build my cabin"
Touch any wood, or field, or house lot
on your peril" cry all the gentlemen of
this world; "but you may command
work in ours, for ns, and we will give
you piece of bread"
"Aud what is that peril?"
"Knives and muskets If we meet you
in the act; imprisonment if we find you
afterward."
and by what authority, kind gentle.
men ?"
by our law"
"And your LAWS it Just ?"
wrought for others under this law, and
got our lands So"
81 repeat the question, Is your law
just?''
"Not quite just, but necessary. More
over, it is juster now than when We were
born; we have made it milder and more
equal"
II will none OF your law" returns the
youth "it encumbers me. cannot I'M
derstand, or SO much as spare time to read
that needless library of your laws.
Nature has sufficiently provided me with
rewards and sharp penalties. to bind me
not to transgress. Like the Persian no.
BILE of old, l ask "that / may neither
command nor obey l do not wish to
enter into your complex social system.
l shall serve those men whom can, and
they who can will serve me. shall seek
those whom love, and shun those whom
l love not, and what more can all your
laws render me?"
With equal earnestness and good faith,
replies to this plaintiff an upholder OF
the establishment, q man OF many vir-
tues:
"Your opposition is feathered- Drained
and overtime. Young man, l have no
skill to talk with you, but look at me; l
have risen early and sat late, and
toiled honestly and painfully for very
many years. l never dreamed about
methods; l laid my bones to, and
drudged for the goods possess; it was
not got by fraud, nor by luck, but by
work, and you must show me a warrant
like these stubborn facts in your own
fidelity and labor, before suffer you, on
the faith OF few fine words, to ride into
my estate and claim to scatter it as your
own"
Now you touch the heart OF the mat
ter" replies the former. ITO tina,
fidelity and labor pay homage. l am
unworthy to arraign your manner of liv
ing, until too have been tried. But
should be more unworthy If did not tel
you why l cannot walk in your steps.
find this vast network, which you ca,
property, extended over the whole planet
l cannot occupy the bleakest era.
of the White Hills or the Allie
ghahy range, but some man o.
corporation steps up to me to show mt
that it is his. Now, though | am peace
able, and on my private account coul'
we'll enough die, since it appears Their
. have been missent to this earth, wher
Oil VIZ ooo.o "Oio "icSuy 'ohoh
: yet feel called upon il
} behalf Of rational nature which
, represent, to declare to you the opinion
. that If the earth is yours, 80 also is
mine. All yonr aggregate existences al
less to me fact than is my own as l an
I born to the earth, go the earth is givel
4. to me, what l want of it to til
j.. and plant nor could l., withou
. pusillanimity, omit TO claim e
, much. / must not only have name t
, live-I must live. My genius leads m
to build different manner OF life from
+ any of yours. l cannot then spare yo
q the whole world. | love you bel
:: ter. must tell you the trut
= practically; and take that whicl
4 you call yours. 1t is Gods worl
il and mine yours as much as you wan
mine as much as | want. Besides,
know your ways; know the systems {
the disease. To the end OF your ow
q power you will serve this lie whic
:. cheats you. Your want is gulf whic
a the possession OF the broad earth woul
q not fill. Yonder sun in heaven 20
: would pluck down from shining on tn
n universe, and make him property an
q privacy, If you could; and the moon an
9 the north star you would quickly hay
Il occasion for in your closet and be-
n chamber. What you do not want for u.s.
+ you crave for ornament, and what yot
n convenience could spare, your pride car
l. not"