Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-08-02

Il Gov. Roosevelt coined the phrase
II and like many other things for whicI
Teddy" is responsible, it is tirst-class
: As the humorist said, Its meanin.
lies in the application of it," No worl
can better express the life that is lei
at present by thousands upon thou.
sands, especially in America, than the
word strenuous Ii CONVEYS the idea
of constant and sustained strain.
physical, mental, nervous; like that OF
a long-distance runner, near the end
of his course. Itis crowding of the
vitality Of lifetime into a few years
or months. And above all. it is a very
foolish waste of energy.
( Nature gives us few examples of''the
strenuous life" Il takes things easy.
The great oak has slow growth.
starting from an acorn that Il child can
toy with. It is satisfied with a little
progress each year. strengthening it,
self against the storms that blow bv|
sending out its roots to take a firm
clutch on the earth. Year by year it,
branches spread, but it shows no ella |
ton or desire to outstrip its fellows. !
Ii husbands its strength. taking the
full winters repose and starting in
anew each season. Unless cut short i'm |
its career by the stroke of the AK or of
the lightning, the oak sapling is good
for centuryor more.
Nature does very little, compare
lively, in a tumultuous way. The
throes OF a volcano or an earthquake.
the cyclone or the tidal wave. are not
to be considered beside the effect,
brought about by the silent forces of {
heat and cold, rain and snow. and the {
aeaseless attrition OF flowing water. !
This article is being written with a :
clear view before the writer across G
SIissisquoi bay. \ long tongue OF land q
opposite marks the locality where Mis-
.isquoi river flows into the bay Its N
'utlet is a delta. with three branches. il
implying wide apart. The land about. ii
everal square miles, is made land. the y
eposit OF the river. Ii came silently -
rom the mountain ranges far away. h
ome by the moving waters. The Il
ocky ledge on which the writer is
Gated bears within it fossils attestinp y,
hat some time, ages ago, the material
I which it is made was beneath the el
'aters Of the lake. 1t has been raised N
lowly by the resistlcss geological IL
)rces that have caused mountains. No n
violence Of 1.-THE strenuous life" here. "a,
How different with modern man tl
ind. lie is born into a world Of stir III
nd hustle, As an infant, he is urged y,
, creep and walk and talk as 81
lrly as possible. to.demonstrate chow OF
mart our baby is" Only few months ID
tier and he is initiated into the mvs- n
'ries Of primary education. His al
purse is constantly watched by proud W
nd jealous parents, who spur him on ie
the race with his fellow students. y,
e gets opportunity tor pleasure, but ne
is sports are largely competitive and tn
llculated to burn out his oil in the ty
easeless struggle for supremacy. So N
is through childhood and youth. al N,
avs striving, worrying, wriggliug tow OF
I'd the top OF the humanImass. But it m
a fit preparation for 1.-THE strenuous .
te" that is TO follow. No sooner has i'm
lie school or college door closed be- In
ind the young man than he plunges ca
. is ENTHUSIASTICALLY. into the maeI- %
rom of business activity. What few oG
.ntimcuts and ideals he NAV have on
'ectcd by chance before this are rude be
shattered now lie must get into pr
lie traces and pull steadily. with AN ~, Wv
is strength and skill and vitality Tor
here is no such thing as successful ! co
lsiness attainment without excep-
onal struggle. mourning great calls
bon human energy. a turn of luck St,
ny help occasionally. but luck is per- s -,
rise and more often comes Of the I'M faC
triety. From early manhood TO old wi
ge, or age made prematurely old. is hi