Smyrna times., 1900-04-18
.'"'.A.'"'.A.'".. A.. 49,. .."..f
! IN IDEAL SHATTERED !
/: Pining For Country Comforts, Mich :;
olson Tried Them. He Came :!
Back to the City Diff
p: ferent Man.
I'.'' I'.''v'"'v'....'v....''....v'....'v'....'v'....'

the radiator, threw away the butt of
his cigar and said to his partner:
think I'll take run over to Mich
igan tomorrow, Smith. l haven't Wis
tied the old folk in winter for ten
years, and I've been thinking of them
all day. Strange this beastly cold
weather always turns my thoughts to
the old fireside, where on such a day as
this we all used to snuggle around the
big coal stove in the sitting room and
eat apples, drink cider, spin yarns,
yawn, lol around as we pleased and
go to bed before 10 o'clock.
"Ah, Smith, we haven't anything like
that old tireside in this big, artificial
city. Here everything is done for you.
You get your fiat ready heated, all the
hot water you need, groceries deliver
ed by speaking tube, sidewalks shovel
ed by the janitOr and yourself carried
down almost to your office door by a
street car. Artificiality everywhere.
1t is life that tends to make US lazy,
to relax our muscles, to breed dyspep-
sia and liver complaint. Give me the
good old days when we had to hustle
to be comfortable. That was when we
enjoyed our little luxuries, because we
knew we had earned them. Now, as
l picture the old folk beside that big
stove, have an overweening desire to
step in and share it's comforts with
them, If only for a day. | guess you
can get along without me?"
Certainly" said Smith Stay lon
,s,l
such a prospect would make you long
to spend at least a week at home.
can get along for that time. And l
may say | envy you the pleasure you
are to have. Alas, l have always lived
in this city, and know nothing but
the artificial comforts of steam heat
ed fiat. l wish were going with you.
Take a week, old man, and tell me all
about it when you get back"
Thanks. old fellow" said Nichol-
son, rising briskly. 'If you can stand
it, l guess I'll stay away for a week
from Sunday. See, this is Saturday. l
can catch an afternoon train, get to the
old home early this evening and sur
prise the old folk while mother is set
ting up her batter cakes for tomor-
rows breakfast. Ever eat any of those
homemade batter cakes? Haven't!
Well, my dear fellow. you haven't liv-
ed more than three-eighths of your life.
Now I'm off. See you in a week. You
know my address should be wanted
sooner"
Sunday the thermometer dropped
away below zero. and Smith found no
trouble in following his inclination to
remain in his cozy, heated fiat. read
ing. smoking. dOZing and playing with
the children. He had nothing else to
do. for the janitor kept the steam at
proper pressure. There was no coal to
carry in, no kindling to split, no early
fires to build-nothing. in short. to do
but rest, or, rather, as he called it. loaf.
He pictured Nicholson in fancy. and
the picture actually made him envious.
A dozen times during the day he wish
ed he had been born on farm or in a
small country village. so he could have
enjoyed the old fireside the roaring
logs in the CRATE. the cider and apples
and the strenuous life which all this
implied. To have everything done for
ones comfort. and by some one else.
was not in keeping with his ideas of
proper enjoyment. Nicholson's graphic
picture had made him a tri6e discon-
tented.
Sunday night the mercury took a
drop a few degrees lower. but there
was no snow. and the janitor did his
duty nobly. Monday morning was col
loquially termed a "corker." but as
Smith had only a block to go to his
train he suffered no Inconvenience and
reached his office with but vague i'm
preston that it was cold day.
At o'clock that afternoon Nicholson
walked in, dropped his grip in a cor
ner, kicked the cat over the transom
lighted a small gas heater and sat on it.
Smith was so surprised at first he
could do nothing but stare at his part
ner. Then gradually he found his
tongue. whats the matter, Nick
Didn't find anything wrong with the
old folks, did you? Cider run QUIT
Old fireside covered with iciclesP
"Look here, Smith"-and there was q
world of pathos in Nicholson's voice
WOuluu Ieil yOu IL WOiu dOouS ]n"'
trip if was not convinced it is my du.
ty. | may have set your fancy going
with my description of the time | was
to have. | may have made you discon'
tented with your hard and barren lot In
this city. want to be square and hon
est even at my own expense. l am the
originator of that expression I'D rath'
er be right than be president want
you to listen to me while relieve my
mind and incidentally rend one of the
biggest myths on earth"
''Then you didn't find things as yor
fancied them" began Smith, but Mich
olson waved him to silence.
''You just listen to my plain, unvar
nished tale and draw your own conciu
slons. No schoolboy ever started ou
on his long vacation with lighter hear