The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-10-27
N n Y Dear Son:-In your letter
N of last week you express the
belief that l am growing ill

N of last week you express the
belief that l am growing ill
natured in my old age, but l
do not think your belief is we'll found
ed. l simply mean to run my own
roost while 1 live, and we needn't go
back to King Lear to learn that such
a course is the best and safest an old
man can pursue. You seem to think
that one should be good-natured at all
times, but that is another one of your
loose opinions that reveals lack of
thought L grant you are smart
young fellow; 1 admit you have trav-
eled much, seen much, and may have
observed much; but [ cannot cOncede
that you think much, or we'll. Is a
more perfect man than Jesus of Naza-
reth conceivable? Yet, when he drove
the money changers from the temple,
don't you think those money changers
considered him an ill-natured busy
body? And don't you remember what
happened to Elmer Wintergreen
Come to think of it, you were on your
travels when the spirit of indiscrimi-
nate ana never changing good nature
was knocked out of Elmer. met him
about four years ago, and in an un-
guarded moment he told me the fol-
lowing narrowing tale of woe:
"You know, Mr.. s., when [ was a
young man 1 made it my chief aim to
be good-natured in all kinds of weather,
and under any and all circumstances.
1 read all the literature that had any
bearing on matters Immediately or re-
motely related to good nature, and as
long as 1 confined myself to exercising
my good nature with circumscription l
got along swimmingly. But in an evil
moment little book fell into my
hands that exposed to my mental view
other and larger worlds to conquer.
The booklet is entitled Radiant Good
Nature and the first chapter opens
with this terse and thought-compelllng
sentence: Radiant Good Nature: 1t
conquers the Universev All that fol-
lowed was merely expository. The
author endeavored to impress upon the
mind of the reader that radiant good
nature is the highest form of good ma.
ture; that it is irresistible-spirits, man
and matter yield to its subduing spell
etc. He boldly asserted that even cap:
tains of industry could be made to bow
to radiant good nature, but this asser
tion should be taken with few grains Of
salt. Well, Mr.. S., 1 thought it all over
and one fine Sunday morning in thu
month of June 1 put what ready money
I had into my wallet, and went fortf
to conquer the world. Of course, tool
along a large supply of radiant goot
nature, and let me tell you right here
needed it.
"I took the Il. R. track to Stagnation
vile. When l came to Spring CreeI
bridge 1 made my first experiment.
sat me down under the large beech tre
and radiated good nature in every di
rection. You know the spot is en-
trancingly beautiful. The limpi'
stream singing It's morning song o
praise; the luxuriantly green beds o
watercress that adorn it's course, re
senbling large emeralds set in a silve
belt; members of the finny tribe sport
ing in the crystal clear element; tn
gently sloping hills covered with in
Vulnerable forms of vegetation, sow
with dewdrops, that like pendant dis
monds glistened in the morning sur
the mighty oak and the graceful mapl'
their leaves trembling in the gentl
breeze as if animated by the breath G
the all-pervading spirit of life; the sof
Iy tinted sky overhead; the smilln
countenance of the newly risen god c
day, radiating blessings upon his e.
pectant children; and, added to all thi
an atmosphere through which is waf
ed upon the wings of unseen fairit
the indescribable sweetness of the pc
fume of the wild rose-'breathes thel
man with soul so dead who could r
frain from radiating good nature
such place and under such circup
stances? At that time would hay
sworn such a person did not exist, b'
know better now.
81 had been in the good nature rad