Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-09

Nhu S'" ultI dI Ol. Ilelena, Win
his hands crossed behind him, gaz-
ing out upon the sad and solemn
sea. | thought of the orphans and
widows he had made-of the tears
that had been shed for his glory, and
OF the only woman who ever loved
him, pushed from his heart by the
cold haud of ambition. And / said
l would rather have been French
peasant and worn wooden shoes. I
would rather have been that poor
peasant with my loving wife by my
side, knitting as the day died out of
the sky-with my children upon my
knees and their arms about me. |
would rather have been that man and
gone down to the tongueless silence
of the dreamless dust, than to have
been that imperial impersonatiou of
force and murder known as Napoleon
the Great. 1t is not necessary to be
rich in order to be happy. 1t is only
necessary to be in love. Thousands
of men go to college and get GER
tihcate tnat they have an education,
and that certificate is i'm Latin and
they stop studying, and in two years
to save their lives they couldn't read
the certificate they got.
1t is mostly SO in marrying. They
stop counting when they get married.
They think they have won her and
that is enough. All! the difference
before and after! How we'll thew
look! How bright their eyes How
light their steps, and how full they
were of generosity and laughter! |
tell you man should consider
himself in good luck if woman
loves him when he is doing his level
best! Good luck Good luck And
another thing that is the cause of
much trouble is that people don't
count fairly. They do what they
call putting their best foot forward.
That means lying 4 little. say put
your worst foot forward. If you
have any faults admit them. Ifyou
drink, say so and quit it. If you
chew and smoke and swear, say so.
If some of your kindred are not
very good people, say so. If you
have had two or three that died on
the gallows, or that ought to have
died there, say so. Tell your faults,
and if after she knows your faults |
she says she will have you, you have
got the dead wood on that woman |
forever. / claim that there should |
be perfect equality at home, and I
cannot think of anything nearer
Heaven than home where there is
true republicanism and true democ-
racy at the fireside. All are equal.
And then, do you know, | like to
think that love is eternal that if
you really love the woman, for her
sake, you will love her, no matter
what she may do; that if she really
loves you, for your sake, the same;
hat love does not look at alterations
through the wrinkles of time, through
he mask of years-if you really
owe her you will always see the face
you loved and won. And | like to
hink of it. If man loves a wo-
nan she does not ever grow old to
aim, and a woman who really loves
man does not see that he grows old.
He is not decrepit to her. He is
lot old. He is not bowed. She al
ways sees the same gallant fellow ,
hat won her hand and heart. like
o think of it in that way, and as
says: Let Time reach
with his sickle as far as ever he can
although he can reach ruddy cheeks
md ripe lips and flashing eyes, he
amt quite reach love-" / like to
hink of it. We will go down the
1ill of life together, and enter the
shadow one with the other, and as
We go down we may hear the ripple
Of the laughter of our grandchildren
and the birds, and spring, and youth,
md love will sing once more upon
he leaf1ess branches of the tree of
ige. L love to think of it in that
equals, happy, happy,
md free, all our own.
Aud some people say: Would
you allow woman to vote ?" Yes,
f she wants to; that's her business,
not mine. If woman wants to
vote, / am TOO much of gentleman
20 say she shall not. But they say
has not sense enough to vote.
1t don't take much. But it seems to
ne there are some questions, as for
Instance, the question of peace and
war, that a woman should be allowed
TO vote upon. A woman that has
sons to be offered on the altar of Mo-
och, it seems to me that such a
grand woman should have as much
right to vote upon the question of
peace and war as some thrice-be-
sOtted sot that reels to the ballot-boX
and deposits his vote for war. But
IL women have been slaves, what
shall we say of the little children
born in sub-cellars children of pow
erty, childrrn of crime, children of
children that are afraid
when they hear their names pro-
nounced by the lips of the mother,
children that cover in fear when
they hear the footsteps of their bru-
tai father, the flotsam and the jetsam
upon the rude sea of life, my heart
goes out to them, one and all.
Children have all the rights that
we have and one more, and that is to
be protected. Treat your children
in that way. Suppose your child
tells lie. Don't pretend that the
whole world is going into bank
ruptcy. Don't pretend that that is
the first lie ever told. Tell them,
like an honest man, that you have
told hundreds of lies yourself, and
tell the dear little darling that it
is not the best way; that it soils the
soul. Think of the man that deals
in stocks whipping his children for
putting false rumors afioat! Think
of an orthodox minister whipping
his own flesh and blood, for not tell
ing all it thinks! Think of that
Think of a lawyer beating his child
for avoiding the truth when the old |
man makes about half his living that