The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1902-12-15

chief end they actually have in view is nearby
end, gross, materialistic, sensual end Shall we
say it is to get money in order that they may get
fine houses to live in, and goodly apparel to wear
and costly equipages to be stared at and more gold
with which they may buy pleasures, and dstinc
tion-distinction- distinction, in its thousand ly-
ing forms-almost the strongest of human incent
ives? At least we all know that along with the
great good that comes with that organized society
which we call civilization there has some
what of evil. The wholesome current of human
life has developed in and from itself poson-a
blood poisoning-which threatens it's very exist
ence. Commercialism, artificial society based upon
false principles, the grossest selfishness, to say
nothing of seductive vices which allure the So
called better classes to Observation-Disclosures
the things which are absorbing the minds and
souls of people. We shall discover an anti
dote for the poison. Wholesomer by far in many
ways, meager as it was was the simple pioneer
life of our forefathers than is the strenuous,
ventional life of our highly organized and
developed system. Who shall discover antidotes
l say so that may possess the good to which
have attained and yet retain our healthful,
simpler lfe I think the two bodies have the
honor of addressing tonight The Inland Empire
Horticultural Association and it's guest Cor host)
the Floral Society of Spokane, organized in
part for the very purpose of presenting anti
dote for the evils have mentioned. For, take it,
that while the former body is chiefly concerned
with economic subjects and the latter (I have not
examined it's constitution) with ministerng to the
pleasure of the sick and the needy, yet the larger
objects of both educational and include greater
social gladness and social health.
I have sometimes wished that with the modern
accumulation of large fortunes there should arise
distinct movement toward seeking again the
building up of country homes of an altogether new
and generous type than was possible in our
forefathers day, but which the larger wealth of to-
day would make possible. If the men who have
won such wealth and the women who have at
tanned the coveted social distinction have not
thereby been disqualified for the enjoyment of
such rural pleasures, it will be well. And indeed
there are many things to indicate that my hopes
in this regard may be realized at distant day.
1t is too bad that "the good of life which we all
seek so strenuously should be lily conceived Of
That the purely artificial should seem much
better than the simpler and more natural That
the beauty all about should be lost in the strug
gle for seeming beauty which fades in very
presence. Highly complex society and its accom-
paniments flares up before imagination
that we are deceived thereby The sounds
loud, the sights are so bright the odors pun
gent that the quiet and delicate beauty of nature
is quite lost upon The lights of the city street
are so brilliant that we dazzled. The
ing throng of human beings sweep into the
current so that we feel that part of it
and cannot be separated The windows gay
with colors, music and dancing and revelry fall
upon our ears, gorgeous pageants file by, every
thing is intense. The quiet of the garden, the
noiseless pushing of the tiny plant through its
earth covering, the dropping of mellow fruit in
the orchard the delicate petals of the daisy
all too unobtrusve for us to see or hear or be con-
scious of. Out of the busy whirl feel stupid
and relaxed. The senses have been overcharged
that they do not respond to such gentle stimuli.