Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-05-21

succeed in life, we must take the time
to build proper foundation, so that
when we have risen we will not be
thrown down by adversely
Some of the greatest men in the his
tory OF our nation we're lovers of ma
ture. They were men of great integ-
ritz and excellent characters. Bryant
would never have written those sub
lime poems. 'Thanatopsis' and ''To a
Waterfowl If he had not been lover
of nature. These poems will be handed
down through the ages as masterpieces
of the human mind. It was IN nature
that Bryant read the hand of God.
irving, who has preserved for Us the
traditions and customs of the early set
tiers of New York, was lover ofnature.
As man he WAS kind and thoughtful
of others.
A very rich lady who was once adj
Iniring beautiful painting represent
ing the sunset, remarked to the painter
-"Oh. I've seen lots of sunsets before,
but 1 never could see any colors like
that in one" The, painter replied,
''True, madam, but don't you wish you
could?"
If plant is moved to some new To-
cality where the conditions of the soil
and food are different from that to
which it has been accustomed, it will
either die or lose its originality and It's
character, so much so that one would
hardly recognize it. It is the same way
with men who have always lived in
pleasant places-the ones who have
formed good characters. IF they are
placed where influences are bad, they
will very likely be affected by the temp
tations and become as the men around
them.
The fungi and the orchids live and
thrive upon other plants by attaching
themselves to them. They do not have
to work for living. We know that if
we do not use our muscles they will
waste away and become useless. This
is also true among plants. When they
obtain their living in this manner they
possess parts that are useless-they do
not need to use these organs to obtain
their living. These waste away, the
|
fewer organs plant has the lower it
stands in the scale of life. Now on the
other hand are trees and flowers able
to take care of themselves, compete
and hold their own with the other
plants of the forest, no matter where
placed, provided the conditions are sim
4 liar, will continue to produce fruit.
found among men. Look at the vag-
rant who begs for living. Although
: he is apparently big and stout, yet he
cannot or will not work. If he had to
} make his own living, he would find it
almost impossible. Examples of the
4 other kind are found aUoong the great
men of the nation. If we will look up
the characters of these men, we will
: find them honest and upright. The
) student of nature who is able to read
} these lessons and see their effect will
surely try to follow the best example.
Now, as we are wandering about thro'
the forest OF over the prairie, we may
chance upon some poisonous plant,
growing among those that are whole
} some, yet they do not seem to realize
its true character. Again we will find
one that is isolated. The others seem
} to shun it, as if by instinct. This
shows US that there may be bad in that
which is apparently good and we will
watch out for it. If we know we are in
| bad company we will discard it.
! Nothing in nature-was ever created
wholly for itself. Insects and animals
, feed upon plants. Some tree may
throw its shadow over some young
; plant that would otherwise be injured
; by the sun. The student of nature sees
) these things and appreciates the lesson
, it teaches. They realize that they do
} not live entirely for themselves but for
} others as we'll, that they should be
good in the world, help their fellow
men when they are weak or in trouble,
and not be selfish. The one who does
these things will certainly have a fine
: character.
: Which is themor pleasant, the home
surrounded by trees and flowers or one
where the premises are barren? The
7 love of nature will cause the trees and
flowers to be planted about the home.
; The time that the inmates of that home
| spend in taking care of those things
: will be very happily spent. What is
t more necessary for forming good
} character than happiness?
| When we become tired from close
; attendance to business, we go to the
country, to some quiet stream or to the
mountains in order that we may gain
new strength for our work by closer
acquaintance with nature.
Nature teaches US many useful les
{ sons. We see the flowers blooming
that they may produce seeds and the
D trees spreading their branches. This
> represents industry. It shows US that if
1 we would succeed in life we must be
: industrious. An industrious man never
has time to form bad character.
We see the violet, a very modest lit
t tie flower hiding itself aWay along the