The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-15

this when people are starving; and
there's no time to prepare that with
board meeting on hand; and what dinner
there is is kept waiting till it is cold;
and have to go out of the house to get
square meal. And to cap it all, thu re
isn't a garment in my wardrobe that l
can go for with the certainty of finding
it there il you have unearthed anyone
in need Of it. wish you would expend
little of your charity on me" In
making charity fad. the poor wife for
got that she had previously assumed a
nearer duty than any that she owed to
others, and that her first charge was her
husband and his home.
The probable origin of the word, from
one meaning to trifie or to toy, is the
best argument against the cultivation
of the thing it signifies. Instinctively
one is aware that the thing taken up as
fad is presently to be dropped, not ex-
plotted or developed, but simply worn
uselessly to tatters. and all it's proper
development hindered. There is some.
thing wanton in approaching serious
and perhaps sacred things as they
are approached when they are to be
cultivated only while fashion or an
inclination lasts. There is something
even more wanton when the fad deals
with great questions or momentous is
70 + oh Lo
pier If John hadn't an idea in his head"
said a woman who had described her
husband to her mother as gone daft on
mental healing, II don't believe he
would let the doctor cross the threshold
if I were dying. He says there is no
such thing as sickness or disease, when
my head and my heart are throbbing
with pain. He says must conquer the
belief in them, when death stares me in
the face. Not drop of medicine may I
give the children. although l know the
Group is coming on and 1 am suffering
tortures-and 30 is he. The idea of
treating a teething baby with eyllo-
gisms, and talk about delusions and be-
liefs! 1 know little Sally would never
have died-There, sometimes l thinks
shall go mad before he gets over it.,
and sometimes I think he is mad now!
And he has SO far overcome the belief
of death that he won't take out life
insurance, and if he should die to-mor
row the children and haven't cent to
our namesw
THAT was precisely my mothers case,
when father became Sandemanian, or
whatever it was" was the reply. HE
said it was criminal to accumulate prop
erty, and he gave away everything as
fast as it came in, and the consequence
was when she lost him, she had to work
with her hands to bring US all up"
"Well, we are never alone in our trou-
bles, more's the pity. And there is one
thing sure, all the fads are not feminine
fads, nor fin de steele things either.
Think what Louisa Alcott's mother had
to endure when that poor, dear blue
eyed saint and great soul of husband
of hers, would wear white and would go
barefoot, because the apostles did, and
wouldn't pay taxes because the apostles
didn't! 1t seems to me that life with
people of good agreeable stupidity would
be more tolerable than with those who
have fanaticisms, and enthusiasts and
fads, even if they don't have ideas
either"
"Wise people," said her mother, "if
they have enthusiasms, do not allow
themselves to be controlled by them.
Such people, whatever wind of doctrine
blows, are like ships on level keel. and
are pretty sure not to make shipwreck."
Interior.