The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-04-15
ALL TIED TOGETHER.
mo MAN LIVETH TO HIMSELF"
NEIGHBORS, HOWEVER FAR OR
CLOSE.
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY "NEMO." "
(Copyrighted.)

| \COpyrlShteo.)
At moment when thousands O.
acres are under water, and stock and
lives in great danger along the Miss
issippl Valley, it Is most opportune tc
em phasize the old. time statement that
"no man liveth to himself!' When
the pioneer OF the empire of free-men
| first swung his axe in the virgin forests
Of the Mississippi basin, by his strength
and by fire he swept away the obstacles
to planting until the land lay bare un-
fder the sky. His need and his right
none will dispute. But where one led,
thousands followed, each working his
will independently and selfshly, as
though there we're no natural laws to
be considered. The result we see.
Where millions of acres were once COW
cred by a spongy flooring of leaves and
the intertwinings OF roots, all uniting
to hold back the waters of the rains
and of the thawing SHOWS, open fields
lie, like spendthrifts, retaining but
fraction of the blessing showered upon
them and promptly needing more. The
steadily flowing streams of the past be-
come now furious torrents in the spring
and dry water-courses in summer.
Thoughtful men declare that the only
remedy lies in the gradual return of a
decided portlon of the cleared land to
wooded condition, or, in other words,
they preach the truth that the dweller
on some remote farm, along the banks
of even a minor stream has personal
responsibility upon him In relation to
the welfare and happiness of the distant
valley-dweller. The Mississippi is at
this moment laundering out a lesson
in material mutual dependence, that is
proclaimed less audibly by weeds, in
sect-pests, and diseases.
May we not recall the story of Rob
inson Crusoe, and from this everlasting
boys favcrite draw lesson that is
needing more and more to be learned
Most readers will remember that this
poor castaway, with no hope of any
human eye to observe his falthfulness,
never failed to carry out his conscienti-
Gus duties towards his Maker, and it is
safe to assume that he would haye con-
tinued to do so even if no other human
being had ever set foot on his lonely
Isle. All the boys-and what are we
men but boys grown older r?-wlll con-
fess the thrill of interest that came
when Robinson Crusoe suddenly saw
before him footprint in the moist |
sand. AS boys our chiet interest in
that footprint was the possible adven-
ture that it promised to Crusoe, but,
as men, a moments thought will con-
vince us that the discovery of fellow
creature brought into play for our hero
an entirely new set of responsibilities.
Not only was he compelled to under
stand that his territory would now have
to sustain another, but there was the
possibility that that other would do
damage to himself in order to gain
complete possession. His study to his
Creator was not decreased, but duty to
his fellow was super-added. In fact,
Crusoe and Friday formed "a state" in
miniature and Crusoe had to curb him
self in various ways to display kindness,
goodwill, tact and unselfshness. We
know how the adventure resulted. Fri
day became an orderly and restrained
neighbor because the right sort of ex-
ample was set before him. It may be
urged that Crusoe was good to Friday
from selfish motive, but selfish mo-
tive or not, the way in which Crusoe
conducted himself towards Friday was
the only way in which both could live
happily together. When other people
came to the island Crusoe's responsible
ity was still more increased and his
duties to his neighbors and their duties
towards him became more complicated.
Now for the application. There is
no such thing as freedom to do as you
please unless you live entirely separate
from other human beings; and then a
paradoxical thing happens, because
liberty of action is enjoyed alone it be-
comes very flat and uninteresting
possession. No civilization can hold
unless the members of it feel
a mutual interest and responsibility or,
to express 1t still more clearly-where
there is the highest degree Of social
service there is the most enduring and
most helpful form of government, and
the highest degree OF liberty.
You can doubtless point me to selfshly
prosperous periods in the worlds his
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