Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-06-20

The Simple Life" BY Charles Wag"
ner. Clio. AMI in. 1873 PIP. Mcclure,
Phillips Co. New York. sl25.
The eighth edition of remarkably
suggestive little book. Few general
readers know anything of Charles
Wagner. and the Introductory bio
graphical sketch by Grace King will
be read with interest.
II states that the author is the pas
tor of French Protestant Church in
Paris. He was born in the old de-
partment OF the Menethe-which has
since been annexed to Germany-in
1852, the son and grandson Of a min
lister. Then the father died. and pow
erty overlook the little family.
In The Soul of Things" q book
written 40 years after Wagner des-
Cribes some OF his early experiences
which taught him the value of sim
ture that Is so sincerely his. Charles
was sent to the primary school OF the
village for education; for culture his
mother turned him loose with Nature.
! He roamed through the forests. learn
ing to know and be intimate with
trees, birds. ferns, insects, and he
worked in the fields with the peasant
folk. becoming initiated into the mys-
teries of agriculture and into the
great wholesome pleasures Of physical
labor. exercising his strength in now
ing. and which he says he would not
exchange as sport for any of the
Wanted new athletic movement"
In 1869 Charles took his A. d. in the
Sarbonne. and later began the study
/ OF theology. But his active. enquiring
mind was not satisfied with the creeds
! he studied. and he fell into doubt. read
Spinoza, Shopenhauer, the Mystics,
Tanler. Eckerhordt and became a mere
, theorizer. Later he regained his
, equilibrium and came 10 satisfac-
tory belief well expressed by tho
"Fatherhood of God and the Brother
/ hood Of Man"
The author says in the beginning Of
! his book so amid the confused rest
lessness of modern life. our wearied
minds dream OF simplicity. The thing
called by this fine name-is IL a van
ished good? do not think so.
But simplicity does not belong TO such
and such economic or social phases;
rather 1t is spirit, able to vivify and
modify lives of very different sorts.
Aspire to simple living? That
means, aspire TO fulfil the highest
human destiny"
The opening chapter. "One Complex
Life" charmingly introduces newly
married couple rushed to death with
"bethrothal dinners, dinners OF pre-
sentatiOn, the settlement dinner, re.
ceptlons, balls" and the grandmother
"verging on eighty-three-there in her
arm chair, enjoying the silence OF long
meditative hours"
She says to her grandchildren: Poor
children! You are worn out! Rest
little and belong to each other. All
these things count tor nothing. Don't
let them absorb you, II is not worth
while. Decidedly. my dears,
the world is growing too complex; and
1t does not make people happier-quite
the contrary"
Here is the keynote TO the whole
book.
There is much common sense in II.
Strange as II may seem, common sense
Is rare quality In men and In books;
II 1t exist II is infrequently applied to
very day needs. Thus we are loaded
with external good, and miserable in
gniritnaI ltfn. L.. al, a..
that which, II must be, We can 10 with
out, and are infinitely poor in the one
thing needful. And where the depth
OF our feeling is stirred with its need
OF loving, aspiring, fulfilling its des-
tiny, 1t feels the anguish OF one buried
alive. True life Is the realiza-
ton Of the higher virtues, justice, love.
truth, liberty, moral power, in one
daily activities"
The careful reader will be reminded
often OF Emerson, and, ] have no
doubt, Wagner was great reader OF
Emerson.
The authors reaction from his earl
Ter acceptance OF German pessimism is
clear-"What strange attitude is
that or certain great thinkers OF our
own times! They act as II they had
created the world, very long ago. in
their youth, but decidedly it was a
mistake, and they had repented it,"
Though often epigrammatic, the
authors style is simple, and his deep
sincerity convinces the reader, driving
the thought home. He urges one to
love on, and to hope-"The most in
genious hope is nearer truth than the
most rational despair" In the last
paragraph, under simplicity of
Thought" he tells us what religion is
good for us, what bad; his creed is
safe to adopt.
There is sonnet in the book which
is genuine and helpful that | don't
wonder President Roosevelt said Of II.
81 wish II could be used as tract