Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-06-19

Ever and anon some worldly man
who has had a night-sweat calls for
the ink, and with pen in hand, writes
again of the "old swimming hole"
To dream Of boyhoods happy June
and the "old swimming hole" Is, to
man stepped In the strenuous dregs of
business. like the fragrant odor of an
inspiring flower in the chamber where
illness exhales its feverish atmos-
phere. Men who, as general thing.
think more Of Swift's reference to fish
that should swim thrice-once in the
sea, once in butter, and once in good
claret-cannot get away from the
memory of the "old swimming hole"
Any man who has had the double
lock knot tied in the tail of his shirt,
while he splattered the water upon his
grinning fellow youths, can never for
get the earnest ardor which marked
his shivering endeavor to unite that
knott
In after years hard problems may
arise to puzzle man, to demand the
uttermost effort of his ingenuity and
capability, but never. no, never, will
he fight against greater odds than
when he sought to unite that wet and
clammy Gordian knot beside the
draughty rivers edge. Triumphs may
come and go, man reach high estate in
the struggle for supremacy, but moth.
ing will ever confront him demanding
greater energy, concentration or perse-
verance.
According to the most honored eth
les of the "old swimming hole" the
knot shall be tied in an able-bodied
manner and as tight as any number
of boys can clandestinely pull it. It
Is then thoroughly water-soaked and
again used as the contending faction
In a tug-of-war. The result is usually
quite satisfying to all but one boy.
Indeed the "old swimming hole" is
surrounded with many more ethical
environments than the mere tying of
shirt-tail.
In most ''holes" boy must pickup
bottom, tread water, dive from the
spring board, stay in the longest" go
in at least once day, have sun
burned back, clam-shell cut, moss In
the hair, sore eyes, shriveled skin, en-.
tire absence of fear, and disposition
to duck" all weaker members of the
school of boys.
In the epigrams Of Martial is found
this: "You see those fish before you.
a beautiful example of the sculpture of
Phidias; give them water, and they
will SWIM"
1t is only in late years that men
show disposition to be fish, but Ger.
tain it is in their boyhood days, give
them water, and they will swim" The
tortoise is not more in its element
than lads in brooks with sandy, shelly.
ing shores. Dare upon dare, shout
upon shout, feat upon feat, and now
and then a wrangle, is born in mid.
stream. Hearts are as light as the
merest debris that flutters by on the
dancing tide. What is there about
life that takes the effervescence OF
happiness from the heart and causes
man to look backward to his bathing
days in the "old swimming hole" for
inspiration and distraction? Do your
thoughts ever ask that question, and
do you never long with Mark Lemon
thus:
"Oh would were a boy again,
When life seemed formed of sunny
years,
And all the heart then knew of pain
Was wept away in transient tears!''
Or did the knot in the tail of your
shirt prove too great for your adde's.
cent powers and leave you only sad
memories of boyhood days?
SSS
June is gladstone month. There
is no patent on this assertion. Along