The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-10-22

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sincerely senatious about his future state, about his chances OF e'e,na' vi. ~.
walton, as to Whether or not he was expected to perform 'day-labof' In his
blindness physical day labor in his physical blindness and he worked him'
self no to such a pitch of excitement that the old fire and frenzy returned
In his vivid imagination he saw the pearly gates, the jasper walls, the great
white throne, and the thousand thousands who sol Him walt" and from
the crucbe oflis genius came the great untarn'shed ana unconSc'oos" o'"'
"They also serve who only stand and wait"
II this rgation Of the opening question were better understood; II II
could burn deep and far into the hearts and souls of men, how much better
and happier for all! How much of pain and misery would be eliminated
from the sum total Of human suffering? II we could feel q felt Milton IN
the ecstacy Of his excited genius-as felt lovable Omar when he wrote with
a pen that will fame and fash through the centuries
u #,.r d What. from his helpless creatures be repaid
# I'd ri Pure gold, for what he lent us.
Sue for a debt, we never did contract.
Aud cannot answer 0, the sorry trade.
II We could feel and know as felt and knew these masters, we couldhave
A higher appreciation mtMe God-head- the true test of progressive lnteli-
gence-more charity and cominiseration for the faults fo'bles' ana iolheso
our fellowsqmore patience and hopefulness in dealing with our own. Phys
ical blindness or weakness is more comprehensive than most people re Will
Ink to admit 1T first blush 1t is, at most, one form, one of the saddest and
most pathetic foruis, let US concede, Of physical infrmlty, but 1t Is only a
form. What of the manifold and multtudinous Others? They are many
And how thonghtlessy and cruelty We deal with them How often DO We
innct inctfabc Wounds by a look, a word, an inclination OF the head, a mo-
ton of the hahd, Men, generous and noble in all things else, cannot refrain
from renarking Oh any physical .ccentricity or deformhy in a woman who
passes by. Ifshe sol uncomfortable cmbonpoint-given over to the terrors
of obesity, something derogatoryf is said. II she is thin and spent her deln'
qucncy is remarked on. II afflicted with strabEmus or "waE-eyed, y some
thing is sad. II Sue Is hump-backed, halt or lame, the thoughtless COM
ment in wQds that burn, If we should pause a moment we would sec that
a ncrsop is NOT responsible for being tall or short, stout or slim, lame or halt,
or blind. They would not offend the eye that is constantly looking for the
perfect and the beautiful if they could avoid II" No one regrets more the
possession Of physical defects than the posscssor; and it is cruel and criminal
in US to comment on. or CriiciSc, what was unlimited and what is undesln
BILE and nnrvodable& The minimizing and meaningless commentaries on the
physical defects of Others have caused more pain in the world than wars and
cyclone pain, unasuagabe pain-suhenng that Is hopeless in Its helpless
ness. The sensitive girl who limps, or who has a mole on her cheek, or
scarifcd face, or a defect of vision, when all the world is looking for beauty
and perfection, suffers more than ever did martyr at the stake or on the
rack There 81 corrosive ignominy about a physical defect, a bodily aber
ration, that is productive of the most poignant grief, the most cxcruciating
suffering Milton was too proud to regard 1T thus. He wondered the Mas
ter would deprive, him Of a faculty and then require Of him "day.labor' In
which that faculty is indispensable. Milton had a poor conception of lnhn
lite justice, His mind was warped. Power, he imagined, had the right tt
demand that bricks be made without straw. lie asked the question In RNd
mith and the soul within MIN answered Unanswered and annihilatcd hi
question. 50 .>-t f.
1fphyscai blindness sa valid excuse for the non-pertormance Of "day
labor y what Of mortal blindness? If a man is not to be held accountable
for the symmetry Of his form; how can he be held accountable for the con
structon Of his mind?| If ainan Is not to be held responsible for his stature
how can liz BE held responsible for his choice Of meat OF drink? liza man Il
not to be held responsible for the color of his hair, or eyes, or the number o
Ihs hnaers, or the size Of his hand, how is he to be held to account for thu
~fntXscs which movc"him q. the influences that attract or repulse him
What is tits that Kcrnhr. the lost, and in his moody wandernss, greatest
of all Pleialcs sayy WY ,.
Nothing is ttt is not ordered by on overrling Power,
From the master march of planets to the soft fringe of a flower;
W are nothing more thin puppets and this Power pulls the string
Making Of that man d mental. making of this clown a king;
Models one in manly beauty perfect he in every part
Great in mind, and grand, majestic in the impulse o his heart.
Marvellous serene aHd1ofty, born the masses to command
witt o look, a tope a motion of his white, beieweled hand. b.
5He,the stately one and sanity seldom feels the spur of SIM
RAnacan stay lit and suppress it by the master will within:
are gold and love and glory, and the faith that ses afar
An unending life of rapture DER the blue rim of our star
But behold a fellow mortal, fashioned o. another plan:
I Coarse, deformed and misbegoten more of devil than of man
%IAr to sin and want and sorrow, born without a sense of shame,
by sharp, keen, fierce desires burning in his blood hks flame:
S4@Mak. unbalanced and repusive, reveGng in sensual things,
hath a soul within him It's a soul that never sings
soul that hath no wings!
@H speeds the blasting bullet, through the breast of fellow mnn,
less he for it, was hidden when the universe began;
IL hs born without the power or the impulse to forbear
W%%Athe dumb. resisless forces of cycles conferred there;
NJ Which gave him life had passions that impened him here;
ChSSh round with strong temptations from his birthcry to his bier;
Formed the hour and the circumstances; placed the pistol in his hand.
But withheld the strength aud schooling his impulses to command.
Accountability Isl an injustice. We outgrow Its rigors a we move alon
tow c"""' saa ehe 'n a.mne ,sss,nn"nhh,a.nmss gust ~ WE e learn arr m ennr1y ,n rsa1n u Of ~ ,,o "
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