The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-03
NANCY Lf[

rA HE Catholic church, among
many excellent duties laid
down for the guidance and
beneft of the believers In It's
IL authority, DEGREES that once
year the strictly religious
shall go into a retreat. "A re-
trent" is not obligatory on those
whose business or secular affairs would
preclude Its accomplishment but the
church offers this benefit to all OF her chill
dren To go into q retreat II to abstain
for ten days from all things secular, TO
abscind all Injuries, to devote ones mind
to an attitude of prayer. to think only
good thoughts OF people and things. Dur
ing a retreat the person In seciusion 10
provided with such food AZ one OF seldom
tary habits can easily assimilAte. the re-
ciusc can sleep as long ~ habit has made
a custom. while religious books, prayer
and determination are the occupants
OF the waking hours.
I was thinking about this ana II struck
me that THIS going into retreat would
be q capital piece OF mental philosophy
for any one to engage In whether ORTHODOX
or heterodox. This life We lead ia full OF
hustle and activity for the majority. From
the minute ct our uprising to the hour Of
our bed time the call On strength and
nervous force II resistless. The man OF at
fairs must keep his eyes open. his ears
distended to hearken to every whisper
which heralds the Irresistible strife OF
progress He believes that II he dare to
nod the waiting courtier at his elbow WIN
grasp his scepter. He thinks he
brains; fearing that while he may
be dreaming OF the daisy chain OF
youth. his successor may gather the queen
rose OF the garden OF good fortune. The
man of business thinks he must be up and
doing seven days in the week. He pauses
not, nor dallies with the fieeting hours.
Even in dreams glimpses of the successful
business methods OF other men arc the
nightmares on which he rides away from
peaceful slumber. Even our so-called
leisure class" that body of men who have
inherited a patrimony or who have retired
with fortune before senile decay has
withered and crushed endeavor, these also
are eternally busy. This class is afraid to
stop for a minute lest the chariot race
rush past and some one else be first to
announce with changing bell the luck Of
the Jockey who rides the winning horse.
The poverty-stricken son Of toll u on a
doE-trot. seeking to earn his bread. The
artisan works over hours to garner little
moro each day. The man of means tolls
not only for himself but to keep his hire
lings too busy to complain. too tired to
quit. The more q man has OF earthly
wealth, the more he thinks he must get.
and the harder he works to retain and
cause to multiply that which thrift has
made his own.
Why don't we once a year 20 into re-
treat, and, rising surerior 10 our daily de-
sires. drop everything and In the seciuston
OF our one room dedicate ourselves to that
mighty resoivent. self We
make great show OF Knowing our neigh4
bors, our friends. We do not. however;
know ourselves. II we once a year took
from the book OF time few pages of virgin
white and covered them with the offspring
OF our Utmost souls. what troops OF little
imps might be born Of which we, seeing
them face to face would be Mortified at
finding ourselves the parent. Can we. Sc
cure Of being fed and housed. divest our
selves of the idea that without US the
world would stop rolling on its axis? Can
We sit quietly deaf to the usual noises OF
a home, careless as to who is reading the
daily paper, content not to be thu reader?
Can we conquer ourselves that We start
not IL fire be shouted across the way,
or "stop thief' be called from the side
walk? Can we fold our hands and be the
philosopher when some loved one calls our
name and we may not answer conner
Can we close our eyes and sleep. although
some dream-chRd stands close beside our I
bed and rosy lips tempt us to keep awake
and play? One OF these days, sooner or
later, all this will come to pass, because
he of the scythe and hour glass will bid
1t be so. Then why can we not. alive and
well, strong and quick to see, do this good
Office for ourselves that we live longer and
live happier?
-
We all want time to think. know PEG.
pie whose heads are said by other persons
to be all punk. know this is not the case.
What these misunderstood ones need II
time to think, and IL they once took 1t