Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-10
The Simple Life
BY CHARLES WAGNER
Translated From the french by Nary
Louise Hsndee
COPYRIGHT. 1901. bu Mcclure. Philips d O..
CHAPTER III.
SIMPLICITY OF THOUGHT.


TT Is not alone among the practical
manifestations OF our life that
there T. need OF making n clear
u ing: the domain of our ideas is in
the same case Anarchy reigns ia hui
man thought. We walk in the woods
without compass or sun. lost among
the brambles and briers OF infinite de
tail.
When once man has recognized the
fact that he has an aim. and that this
aim il TO Ice Il man. he organizes his
thought accordingly. Every mode OF
thinking or Judging which does not
make him better and stronger he re-
jects rs dangerous.
And first OF all he fees the too com
mon contrariety OF amusing himself
with his thought. Thought is a tool.
with its own proper function: IL isn't n
toy. Let us take an example. Here Is
the studio OF n painter. The implements
are all in place: everything indicates
that this assemblage OF means Is ar
ranged with view 10 an end. Throw
the room open To- apes. They will climb
on the benches, swing from the cords.
rig themselves in draperies. Golf them
selves with slippers. juggle with brush
-, nibbIe the colors and pierce the can
vases 10 see what Is behind the paint.
j don't question their enjoyment. Ger
tainly they must find this kind Of ex-
ercise extremely interesting. But an
ateiier Is not made 20 let monkeys
loose In No more Is thought a ground
for acrobatic evoiutions. 4 man worthy
Of the name thinks as he Is. as his
tastes are: he goes about IL with his
whole heart. ard not with that fitful
and sterile curiosity which. under pre-
text or obscrvin; and noting every
thing. runs the risk OF never experience
ing a deep and true emotion or accom-
piishlns n right deed
Another hnbIt I'm urgent need OF cor
rection. ordinary attendant on conven-
tionai life, is the mania for examining
and aualyxing oneself 1T every turn
7 do not invite men TO neglect intro
spection and the examination Of con-
science. The eudeavor TO understand
ones own mental attitudes and motives
Of conduct In an essential element OF
good living. But quite other is this ex-
IRENE vigilance. this incessant obser-
walton OF ones life aud thoughts. this
dtssecting Of oneself, Ike n piece OF
mechanism IL 10 a waste Of time and
goes wide Of the mark. The man who.
TO prepare himself the better for walk
ing. should begin by making a rigid
anatomical examination OF his means
Of locomotion would risk dislocating
something before he had taken a step.
You have what you need to walk with.
then forward! Tnke care not 10 fall.
and use your forces with discretion.
Potferers and scruple mon9ers are soon
reduced TO fnact1on- IL needs but 4
giimmer OF common sense TO perceive
that man Is not made TO pass his life
in a self conferred trance.
And common sense-do you not find
what is designated by this name be-
coming as rare as the common sense
customs of other daysT Common sense
has become an old story. We must
have something new. and we create
q Fictitious existence. n refinement Of
living. that the vulgar crowd has not
the wherewithal TO procure IL is so
agreeable TO be distinguished. Instead
OF conducting ourselves Ike rational
beings md using the means most OBJ
viously 1t our command We ardYe- -hY