Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-08-20

y
INSSAE@ helpful and sensible one, it ought
!, ID4N2NAk-h to be encouraged says the Mem.
1 0NAHER phis Scimitar. Many blessings
3=kZs<ks come to mankind in the shape Of
l IN NS<s-< fads aud remain in permanent evil
NNA " dence wherever slum-work, dress
- - reform and improved methods of
living are found.
OF late the doctrine Of simplicity has arisen to be
preached by pulpit and press and to be practiced
by those who are earliest seekers after novelties.
-Four books have been written recently, advocating
simplicity in every way and the discussion is find
ing favor on all sides.
The life Of the average American for the past
decade has been o very burdensOme one, full Of
@eOmplex conditions. Prosperity has come with
such rapidity and with such an abundance OF good
things in its wake that the people are beginning
realize that they are unable to keep up with the
times. It ispretty hard for the average human or.
ganism to keep pace with the electric devices Of the
PERIOD and that is the rate at which the world has
been trying to move.
Some fake philosopher has somehow sowed the
belief in the hearts Of the people that the more
worldly goods one has the happier one can be. The
spirit of the times, born of electical cOntrivances
and inventions, has multiplied effort ambition and
achievement until restessness is the common char
leteristic of the human family, and is salts
ied. Aside from physical wants the average man
believes his brain must be the beneficiary OF the
thousand aud one devices and makeshifts of the
lay. So writer's and publishers have entered into
league with the butcher and baker and candlestick
naker to cater to the demands of a never satisfied
public.
The result is wearied, overworked brain that
must eventually collapse under the strain Of keep
ng up with all the new books, magazines and daily
apers that the mills Of the gods OF industry are
grinding out.
'eThe Brown Book - referring to the effort people
re making to keep up with the times and the use
less expenditure of time and money to maintain
ppearances says: tE# Nb#|ElO
'sWe've shOpped early and late and long for this
that piece Of dress accessory, which didn't look
my too well on US after we got it, but which tickle
ashton told US we must ad0Tn ourselves in because
was the correct thing We have filed our houses
lith gilt chairs, and onyx lamps and chenille
raperies, and glass brica-b brac not always because
hey appealed to whatever sense Of the artistic We
nay have had, but because our more aristoclatic
eighbOrs, whom we felt Obliged to follow in all
hings happened to possess them. Likewise we
AVE made many call merely for the sake Of eti
uette, and have gone TO many junction solely for
he sake Of appearances. And likewise also, we
ave ieasted at many board where the viands we're
more French and fashionable than wholesome and
yise, and which we consumed, not altogether be-
ause they tasted 30 extremely fine, as because the
ating Of them was the vOguish thing to do. And
gt few OF us, venture to assert, have built
buses beyond our means, worn clothes for which
he tailor had to wait long for his money, bought
wels the costs Of which we're al out Of proper re-
ton to our income, and taken flyer on the
arket with funds that could have been put to sim
ler and saner use."
How delighted the good people OF 'sBroOk Farm" "
ith its ideal Life Of years ago. would be il they
Ould know this hope for reign Of simplicity.
be world for the past half century has forgotten
he doctrine these good old philosophers taught of
plain living and high thinking" and in it's haste
reach the prizes it coveted it has reversed the les
)n.
Even e only few take Up Che simplicity fad il
i'll be that much energy conserved out Of so much
sually lost IN the general shuttle and hurry. It
ay become a fashion, md simple houses, plain
owns, less elaborate methods o. entertaining may
among its outward and visible forms.
The taste Of the world generally has been educa-|
d up to that point where It likes violet changes
Id startling contrasts, and this sudden swervng
ON bigh-living, OVer-dressing end OVer,eatng to
life On simpler plane may 50 appeal to the ma
rity Of people as TO make it general and lasting