The Tupelo journal., 1902-11-07
ARP VS.. LORD BACON.
Georgia Humorist Prefers Children
to Philosophy or Fame.
The Great English Essayist Died
and in DisGracc-Loying
Letters Give Pleasure Tbnt
Money Cannot Buy.
Copyrighted by Atlanta Constitution, ana
Reprinted by Permission

Copyrighted by Atlanta Constitution, ana
Reprinted by Permissionl
Lord Bacon said that children are
hostages 10 fortune and impediments
10 great enterprises. He had none to
trouble him and no doubt found more
time to study and become a great
man, but his philosophical attain
ments aid not save him from disgrace.
Perhaps some children would have
saved MIN, even though the world
would have lost his philosophy.
Shakespeare had but one son, and he
died in early youth and the family
name became extinct in the second
Charles Lamb, nor Hood nor Tom
Moore left children. and Burns only
two. Sir Isaac Newton was never
married, nor was Pope or Goldsmith
or Whitfield. Byron had one child, a
daughter. Calvin married a widow
with four children, but died without
= any of his own. John Wesley mar
ried a widow, but she ran away from
him three times. The last time he
wouldn't let her come back, but wrote:
II did not fOrsakc her; / did not eXpel
her; l will not recall her" Martin
Luther married a nun, as he said: ITO
please his. father and tease the pope
and veX the devil" l have noticed in
my reading that almost all the great
thinkers, philosophers and statesmen
died chilGless or left but one or two
children. Washington had none, nor
Gen. Jackson, nor Pope. Pierce had
only two. but they died before he did.
Neither Jefferson nor Monroe left any
son. Webster left one. He was killed
ar Bull Run. and the family name
dropped ont. John Randolph was
never married, and Poe left no chill
Cren. Neither Toombs nor Gov. Troup
Left any son, and Alexander Stephens
was never married. DR.. Miller died
chiidless and the family name dropped
out. There is something sad and
melancholy in noting the dropping
uut Of a noble family name for lack
oi children. Now ii is more than
probable that these great men would
49, H1NR dNdtlINR IdiAlN VI I&Ib "
mankind the benefit of their great
achievements if numerous children
had been born to them and they had
had to scuf1e to maintain and edu-
cate them. If a father does his duty
by his children he Will hardly have
time 10 acquire either fame or for
tune. We know from experience at
our house that it is an anxious. earnest
struggle to raise ten children in a way
Stat win make them love us and love
home and cherish the.memories of
tEeir youthful days. 1t is sad for a
man or woman to have to look back to
4 hard. unhappy childhood. But which
Is best for Il man-children or great
enterprises? The one is a compli-
an"e with nature and the divine law
the other a qualification of mans sell
fish ambition. The proper raising of
a family of children is the biggest
thing in life. In many cases marriages
are unhappy and the children Il curse.
but there is no good XcUse for the
average man not seeking a mate. OF
course there are exceptions, but the
universal law is that woman was
created for man and that her highest
duty is to be a mother to his children.
No wife is happy without children.
Children are a heritage from the
Lard. and nobody but the Lord knows
where they came from or why they
cam at all. David says BLESSED is
he who hath his culver full" \ child
should be taught early hat he or she
WIS created in the image of God. The
Bible says so. 1t will beget a self
respect and perhaps prevent intemper-
ance and bad conduct. When King
Henry Ii. was making a tour of his
Kingdom. his subjects met him on the
way and gave him great ovations and
made presents to him and his cour-
tiers, but one humble peasant came
and brought him nothing. Count
Abensberry said to him: What have