Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-09-11
Dear M. B. Friends:

Dear M. B. Friends:
"Again returns the day. when we look
to our column for words of remembrance
from our scattered workers, and 1t is with
pleasure that pass on to you welcome
letter from our dear friend and sister,
Flossie.
Yes, there are many things "hard to
understand, and one of the hardest is
"why there should be so much suffering
in the world". Should we grow hard and
selfish and unsympathetic If there were
no weakness or illness or pain? Would
the wild scramble for place and position
and influence be rougher, and the ambi-
tions of men be realized with less of con-
sideration of others needs, II ell were on a
common footing of sound health, freedom
from sorrow and neither bodily nor
mental weaknesses?
"Made perfect through suffering" We
cannot realize all it means; many OF us
would rather fall short of perfection than
attain it at such cost. Those who have
never known pain and sickness cannot
understand what the weak and suffering
endure. They may be tender toward
them and pitiful, but they cannot so fully
sympathize with them, as those who have
borne similar burdens.
Dear Aunt Mddge:
l want to thank you and the other NJ. b.
friends, "Ann," 'Sfster B." rs. j. Y" and
janet, for their kind thought of me and sym
patty during my Illness, AS "sister B." said
heir messages were like rays of sunshine;
appreciate, and shall treasure them in my
memory with.many other acts of kindness.
II is hard to understand why there should be
so much suffering in the world, but If we never
had sickness or sorrow we could hardly realize
how many good hearts there are around us.
should like to see "Janet's" garden, and
wish she could have seen the bouquet of meadow
flowers and grasses that was brought in to me
recently. We counted thirty five varieties, and
though the flowers soon faded, the grasses win
give pleasure all winter.
There were weeks when could not read. but
the NJ. b. column was read to me. so have kept
somewhat in touch with you all. FLossIE.
Now that there is so much talk about
the Pan-American exposition land who of
us that have not been able to visit Buffalo,
have enjoyed the illustrated articles
relating to it in the various magazines and
papers), it occurred to me that not every
one had thought of how or why the word
Pan was prefix of the title given this
great exposition.
Pan, according to Grecian mythology,
was the god of fiocks and shepherds. He
was the son of Mercury. When his
mother first saw him she ran away in
fright, but Mercury carried him to
Olympus and the nymphs nursed him.
He was favorite with all the gods, and
was especially the companion of Bacchus
He had terrific voice by which he
frightened the Titans in their struggle
with the gods. 1t was asserted in Athens
that Pan promised to brighten away the
Persians If the Athenians would worship
him, and hence originated the expression
'panic fear".
He was the god OF bee keepers and
fishermen, and according to Servius, was
considered as the god of nature generally,
or a personification of the universe.
suppose it is in the last-named conception
of his attributes or powers that this name
is applied to this wonderful display OF the
"arts and scienees".