Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-14
VOICES CT THE PRESS.
Pleasures of the Commonplace.
(Bangor News.

Ni'ttllSOI 4SGN5J'
We have always had q secret admit
ration for that man from the country
who went to a big hotel and when
asked by the esS-suited waiter what
he would wish to cat said it must be
something good" and when pressed
to specify just what he wished Tor re-
piled that he would take some bread
and mol2sses, because he was sure
that was always good. So much Is
SAID in society and so much is prlnteI
in the papers about the excellent
things of this world that we are Often
cloyed with the repetition and have an
unsatisfiel yearning to hear about the
commonplace. Why is it that so many
of us wish to excel? Even should we
succeed in reaching the pinnacle 10
which we aim, our stay can be but
brief at the longest. No man is SO
rich, no athlete is so strong, no woman
excepting u very few whom We all
| Knows SO beautiful that one still
more accomplished will not soon arise
and push the champion from its place.
| Meanwhile, the common man ana
common woman, the person OF average
attainme1ts and average ambitions can
! go along unCaring about what report
says, wholly happy in the belief that
| both good and evil, fame and oblivion
| are but comparative terms, and no
| man can attain to lasting happiness
| who desires to overtop all competitors.
| Indeed, the life of the commonplace
man is far happier than is the existence
| of him who is never satisfied. To so
| live and so die that our deeds may not
attract attention. that our credit viii
, not be aSsailed and that our name Will
not be smirched by the tongue Of envy
"a life OF this kind is one Of supremest
! happiness.
| For example, just now we are plan
| ming TO have our boots tapped. We
can afford q new pair, which would
| look much better and which would be
moro in keeping with style. But we
are going to have those old boots
tapped if we live. We are not trying to
| be cranky or odd, for we despise per-
sons who try to dlaW attention to
| themselves. by such methods. but when
one has experienced the delightful ease
| and JOY of wearing Old boots and con-
trasts this peace OF mind ard of body
with the anguish of breaking in new
Ihoots. the reason for adding new taps
| IS very oDNlOuS IlS-ll WIN 10 pul II VI
| woman has but one life to endure. He
can do many things to draw the praise
| or the censure of those who know him,
and if he is 50 unfortunate as TO be
| praised the blame will come anyhow.
Such being the case what is the use
of trying to plan our lives according to
what others may think or say? Why
not spend little of our time in eA-
| tracing the plea sures of existence as
| we go along? We may not be able to
make so big a spread as those who are
richer. but this does not hinder us
from having as good q time. Let US
strive more for the commonplace. Let
| us curb greed and ambition and en-
| 10y things as they arrive. We may
not be able to go to the Seashoie or to
| Europe, but the poorest among us can
get up early enough to see the sun rise,
and when we behold that one sight.
we shall know that we are looking at
| a work Of artistic painting such no
paDhacl or Rembrant could 40 ana
such as no mortal artist can ever per-
form We may not be able to hear the
divine Patti when she gives her next
farewell tour in America, but we can
still hear the robins call from the elms
and feel thrill of joy when the song
sparrow sings that Patti never gave.
United We Stand.
(ReDorter- Journal.
The Kennebec Journal assures the Wa
terviIle Mail that if the state house is to
be moved it will do all it can to have It
go to Watervile and the Mail assures
the Journal that unless it can come to
Waterville it will use its influence to Keep
It at Augusta. And the Reporter-.!ournal
will cooperate with both Of them.