The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-30
HIS PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE.
Ingersolrs Vision of q Career From
tht. Cradle to the Grave.

One OF the most remarkable pro10efs
OF IngersoiIs pen was as essay On
-I4fv.'' a piece OF Prose poetry. In which
he follows human life from the cradle
70 the grave. 1t is as follows;
Bern Of love and hope. Ct ecStaey and
pain OF agony and fear, OF tears and
toy-dowered with the wealth Of two
united hearts-heli in happy arms, with
lips upon life's arifted font. hIue-veined
and fair. where perfect peace finds per-
feet form--rocsed by willing feet and
wcoed TO shadowy shores Of sleep by siren
mother singing soft and low-lookIng
with wonders wide and startled eyes at
common things of life and day-taught by
want and wish and contact with the things
that touch the tiimpled flesh Of babes
iured by light and flame and charmed by
color's woudrous robes-learning the use
OF hands ami feet, and by the love OF
mlmicry begaiied 10 after siseech-reIeas-
Ing psisoned thoughts from grabbed and
curious marks ON soiied and tattered
leaves-puzzling the brain with erooksd
numbers ana their changing. tangled
wQrth-and SD through years Of alter1at
ing day and night, until the captive grows
familiar with the chains and walls and
limitations Of a life.
And time runs on in sun and shade.
until the one Of all the world is wooed
and won. and all the lore of love is taught
and learned again. Again a home IS built
with the fair chamber wherein faint
dreams. like cool and shadowy wales. di-
vide the beloved hours OF love. Again
the miracle OF birth-~the pain and joy. the
kiss OF welcome and the era1le-song
drowning the drowsy qrattle Of a babe.
And then the sense OF obligation and
az wrong-pity for those who toll ana
weep-tears fer the imprisoned and de-
spised-loye for the generous dead, ana in
the heart the rapture OF a high resolve.
And then ambition, with it's lust of pelf
and place and power. longing TO put upon
it's breast distinctions worthless badge.
Then keener thoughts of men. and eyes
that see behind the smiling mask OF craft
--fiattered no more by the obseQui0us
cringe OF gain aud greed-knowing the
uselessness OF boarded gold-of honor
bought from those who charge the usury
Of se.f-respect-of power that only bends a
towards knees and forces from the lips
of fear the lies of praise. Knowing at last
the unstud.ed gesture OF esteem, the reyer-
ent eyes made rich with honest thought.
and holding high above all ether things
high IA hopes great throbbing star above
the darkness OF the dead--the love of wife
ana child ana friend.
Then locks Of gray and growing love
Of other days and helf-remembered things
then holding withered hands of those
who first held his. while over dim ana
loving eyes death softly presses down the
lids OF rest.
Ard SO. locking in marriage vows his
children's hands and crossing others on
the breasts Of peace, with daughters
babes upon his knees. the white hair
ning.ing with the gold, he journeys en-
from day To day to that horizon where
the dusk is waiting for the night AT last,
sitting by the holy hearth Of home az
evenings enberS change from red tn
gray. he falls asleep within the arms Of
her he worshped and adored. feeling
upon his pallid lips loves last and hottest
kiss"