The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-12-28
IRISH ST. NDARD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1901


THE IR1SH
ing has not yet decorated our lip, or,
that the graceful beard which we
fancy we had been sleekfng has not
for the present protruded its roots
through our clean chins.
The pyramids of Egypt are but pig
mics in comparison with the castles
constructed by our thoughts. The
bravery that would buoy us up on
such and such an occasion we hear
not recounted of any one, and see it
exhibited by none. The aptitude we
should display, and the wisdom and
tact with which we are certain we
should carry ourselves under set cir
cumstances help to make us discon-
tented with theory, and SOW within us
the seeds of longing for incidents
which probably may never occur.
Being yet under the parental roof,
and thereby saved the necessity Of
looking after our well-being, and, bet
ter still, not having to purchase ex-
perience at the dear rate at which
the world sells it; how truly vague are
our perceptions. and how incorrect
our notions of life. We are totally
ignorant as to the comings and 60
ings Of the world, and but few years
more will convince us that matters
were not as we fancied, that the world
which we thought so real was but a
passing glare, that the content we
seemingly thought to exist in those of
maturer years could in reality be
found in ourselves, and that our sup
posed capabilities rested on nothing
more than puerile day dreams.
But "let us review the scene," let
us cast one longing, lingering look at
those days we spent beneath the old
homestead and it's venerable surround
Jugs, and though many years may
have flown since we gazed at that
sacred dwelling, and though even per-
haps our eyes have rested on scenes
more bright and structures more state
ly, yet should we but pause for
moment, recollections of The shadowy
past" will not only gently whisper,
but thoroughly persuade us that
Mid pleasures and palaces
Though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble
There's no place like home.
The expression of family-life is at
once so realistic that it seems rather
difficult to enlarge OH it. without in
fact snbtracting from it's ideal. What
after all can be said that more imbues
the mind than the picture which in
stantly comes before the intellect
when the phrase family-life has but
been uttered? The stately form of
Il pensive father, the gentle counten-
ance of n loving mother, the joyous,
playful and smiling faces of brothers
fond and sisters dear flash before us
as "forms that once have BEEN" in
response to this word.
Yes. we may tease our mind and
tire our brain for ideas to soothe, and
when our Imagination has gone to and
fro we shall yet have to confess that
there is nothing be it What it may,
that so captivates as the portrait
wherein is depicted the engrossing yet
withal amiable air of father, the
anxious though benign manner of a
mother, and the engaging and in
nocent behaviour of brothers who
loved and sisters who We're as dear to
us as our own souls.
Casting now retrospective eye at
those days when it was our fortune
to be one of the group since dispersed
by time; it must be to some extent a
matter of regret that perhaps we did
not appreciate the privilege, Or value
the blessing of being placed in the
temple Of home, ut whose shrine we
learned to offer feelings of respect to
those to whom they We're due and
felt ourselves urged to communicate
the sentiments of affection which were
but too anxious to find those on whom
we might lavish them.
But the transformation has taken
place land all these charms are fled;
do what we may, we can only now
ponder over the scenes when perhaps
we fondly gazed at the streaming eyes
of an elder brother setting out for a
distant cline, and saw the tears he
wept minglc with our own, or when
it was our sad lot to give farewell
look at the face of one whose spirit
was already in the land beyond the
grave, and for the touch of whose
hand we have ever since longed but
to no purpose. and for the sound of
whose voice we have waited in vain.
CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
They are Severely Condemned by