Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-12-02

quiet for reposeful thought, nor to ex-
change a peaceful word. No, this is
not living!
Fortunately there is the grandma
theirs room. Grandmother is nearly
eighty years old. Having toiled and
suffered much, she had reached a
plane where she could look at things
with that calm surety which comes
to the lives of those who have high
intelligence and loving hearts. AL
most always seated in her easy chair,
she loved the long, silent hours OF
meditation. So the busy whirlwind
which swept the rest of the house
Gained itself respectfully at her door.
At the threshold of that retreat voices
we're softened and footballs were made
light. And, when the young lovers
felt the need of quiet moment, they
flew to the grandmother's room.
Poor children!" she said then.
How unnerved you are! Repose here
a little, and belong to each other.
That is the principal thing. All the
rest counts for nothing, and does not
deserve that you should be so abb
sorbed in It,"
They knew it well, those young peo-
pie. How many times in the last few
weeks had their love not been obliged
to cede before all sorts of conven-
tionahties, exactions and utilities.
! They suffered from that fatality,
which at this decisive moment in their
| lives ceaselessly detached their minds
from the only essential thing, thrust
them against a multitude of secon-
/ dairy preoccupations. And willingly
they approved of the grandmother
when she said to them between a kiss
and smile:
Decidedly, my children, the world
| Is growing too complex, and it does
not make people any happier-quite
the contrary"
l am of the same opinion with
grandma. From the cradle to the
grave, in his needs as in his pleasures,
in his conception of the world and
himself, the modern man struggles
through a maze of numberless COM
plications. Nothing is simple now,
neither thought nor action, amuse-
ment or even death. We have with
our own hands added a train of diff
culties to existence and cut off many
pleasures. l am persuaded that at the
present moment there are thousands
of my fellow-beings who suffer from
a too artificial life. They will be CRATE
full to those who seek to give express
ion to their discomfort and encourage
| IN l,n he CT, nj Tot x,
which works in their mind expressing
them vaguely.
Let us enumerate first a series OF
facts which put into relief the truth
we wish to show.
The compleXity of life appears in
the multiplicity of our material needs.
One of these universally conceded
phenomena of this country is that our
needs have kept pace with our re.
sources. That is not in itself an evil
The birth of certain needs mark, in
fact a progress. 1t is a sign of SUI.
periority to feel the need of bathing
to wear fresh linen, to inhabit whole
some houses, to eat healthful food
and to cultiate the mind. But, II
there are certain needs whose birth is
desirable and which have a right to
live, there are others which exercise
a harmful influence. and exist at our
expense, like parasites. 1t is the mum
Der and the imperious character OF
these which preoccupy our minds.
If our forefathers had been told
that one day humanity would have al
its disposal all the engines Of which
II is possessed to maintain and de
fend its material existence, they would
have concluded at first that there
would be augmentation of indepen
dence and in consequence happiness
And, in the second place, sensible
decrease in the competition for the
necessities of life. 1t would even have
been permitted them to think thai
simplification of existence, resulting
from these perfected means of action
would bring the realization of high
er morality.
Nothing of all this has come tc pass
Neither happiness, social peace. moi
power for good has been increased.
In the first place. does it seem t.
you that your fellow citizens. taken a!
whole, are better contented thar
their ancestors, or surer of to-mor
row?
do not ask II they would be RICH
to be so, but If they are. To see then
, as they live, it appears to me that thu
majority are disconnected with thei
lot, before all being preoccupied will
? their material needs. and under tn,
obsession of cares for the morrow
Never has the question of food ant
shelter been sharper, or more absorb
, ing than now. when we are bette
nourished, better clothed and bette
lodged than ever before. He deceive
: himself who believes that the ques
, ton of, What shall we eat. what shall
We drink, and with what shall we b.
, clothed?" is presented to the poo
alone-those who are exposed to an
, guish of tomorrow without bread o