The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-14
THE SEASON OF NEW LIFE.

| The human creature. as well as the
| inanimate flowers of the field, feels the
| revivifying influence OF the resurrection
season. This is manifest in many out
ward forms. The arraying of the body
in fresh attire is not a mere vanity, but
the outgrowth of wish to be in physi-
cal harmony with nature; the spring
bonnet Is a blossom not less natural
than the dandelion of the wayside; the
housekeeping and renovating a part of
the universal tendency to discard the
old and put on the new. What is true
in the physical sense has it's counter
part on the spiritual side. Unless the
mind and soul be dulled almost to ex-
tinction by devotion to sordid affairs
they must feel an uplifting-a disposi-
ton to shake off burdens of care and
look to brighter things. This may be
due to the influence of the outer world,
to the eternal miracle which each year
transforms a bleak and barren earth
into garden of beauty and bloom; but,
again. it may be from within; it may
be the feeble futtering of divine aspi-
rations choked and hidden for the most
part under the weight of worldly in
the Lord from His tomb at time when
inanimate nature wakes from it's slum-
Der and transfigures hill and vale 1t
may very well be that the spiritual in
stinct feels a corresponding quickening
at this time and is disposed to shake
off enthralling and corroding bonds.
Whatever be the cause, whether by
force of natures example or of innate
grace. the fact remains that when the
forest and field burst into the glory of
leaf and flower the heart of man is most
conscious Of wish to rise above the
narrowing influences of his daily toll
and breathe a freer, purer atmosphere.
Absorption in work from mercenary
motives, or from mere habit, or because
of supposed necessity, is fault of this
feverish age. The American does not
know the meaning of rest. He moils and
tolls at his chosen or appointed tasks
six days, if not seven, in the week, for
at least fifty weeks in the year, and for
all the years of his life until age and
decrepitude forbid. If he take two
weeks out of the fifty-two for recrea
tion-and the vast majority do not-he
does not get the recreation. for he has
not learned how to rest. He comes
home tired and bored, and unrefreshed,
to take UP the deadly daily routine
again with a sense of relief. If he
snatch art pleasure as he goes along it
is in breathless way that serves him
but i'll. His work is first in Importance,
which is, perhaps, best, or at least I'M
avoidable, but he permits all things to
bend to it and makes himself it's slave.
If he plan to go to the theater he hur-
ries home to a late dinner, dresses in
haste, and finds the evening long be-
cause of WEAKNESS of body. If, by way
of gaining intellectual benefit, he joins
literary club, he is apt to find it bur-
of the programmes, being prepared in
haste and under pressure, is but i'll di-
gested and unsatisfactory. He has no
time for serious reading, no time for
becoming acquainted with his neigh
bors, no time for saving his immortal
soul, no time for getting anything out
of life save the almighty dollar And
the dollar when he comes to think of
1t seriously. say once year, is hardly
worth while as thing to live for.
That this reflection comes even once
a year is something to be glad of. Even |
an aspiration to better things is a hope |
full indication. Out of it may in time |
evolve a practice that will prove the
theory-a life worth living in the world |
that now is, a resurrection of the soul |
from the dust and ashes of unmitigated |