The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-13

and footballs were made light. And,
when the young lovers felt the need
Of a quiet movement, they flew to
the grandmother's room.
Poor children!" she said tbon.
How unnerved you are! Repose
here 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 absorbed In IT."
They knew It we'll, those young
people. How many times in the last
| few weeks had their love not been
obliged to cede before all sorts Of
conventionaltics eXactions and flu
tilities. They suffered from that fn-
tally, which at this decisive moment
In their lives ceaselessly detached
their minds from the only essential
thing, to thrust them against null
titude Of secondary preoccupations.
And willingly they approved of the
opinion OF the grandmother, when
sho said to them between kiss and
smile:
Decidedly, my children, the world
is growing too complex, and 1t does
not make people any happier-quite
the contrary"
am OF the same opinion with
grandma. From the cradle to the
grave, In his needs as in his pleas
ures, in his conception Of the world
and himself, the modern man strug-
giles through maze Of numberlcss
complications. Nothing Is simple
now, neither thought nor action,
amusement or even death. We have
with our own hands added train
Of difficulties to existence and cut off
many pleasures. l am persuaded that
at the present moment there are thou-
sands Of my fellow-beings who suffer
from a too artificial life. They will
be grateful to those who seek to give
expression TO their discomfort and
encourage them IN the regret for the
simplicity which works in their mind
depressing them vaguely.
Let us enulnerate first a series OF
facts which put into relief the truth
we wish to show.
The completely Of life appears in
the multiplicity Of our material
needs. One of these universally con-
coded phenomena Of this country Is
that our needs Nave kept pace with
our resources. That is not In itself
an evil. The birth Of certain needs
mark, in fact, progress. It is a
sign of superiority to feel the need
of bathing, to wear fresh linen, to
inhabit wholesome houses, to eat
healthful food, and to cultivate the
mind. But, If there are certain
needs whose birth is desirable and
which have right to live, there are
others which exercise a harmful in
and exist at our expense,
like parasites. 1t is the number and
the imperious character Of these
which preoccupy our minds.
If our forefathers had been told
that one day humanity would have
at its disposal all the engines Of !
which it is possessed to maintain and
defend its material existence, they would
have concluded at first that there would
be an augmentation of Independence, and
in consequence happiness. And. In the
second place, a sensible decrease, In the
competition for the necessities Of life.
1t would even have been permitted them
to think that the slinplification Of ex-
istence resulting from these perfected
means Of action. would bring the realiza-
ton ofla higher morality. 44
Nothing of all this has come to pass.
Neither happiness. social pence, nor pow
er for good has been increased. JGt
In tho first place, does it seem to you
that your felow-duzens, taken +, as a
whole. arc better contented than their
ancestors or surer Of Tomorrow?
. II u ho ICl,t ff
he So but il they are. 10 sec them
as they live. It appears to me that the
majority are disconnected With their lot.
before all being preoccupied with their
material. needs, and under the obscssion
Of cares for the morrow. Never has inc
Question Of food and shelter been sharper,
or more absorbing than now. when we
arc better nourished better clothed and
better lodged than ever before. He de-
ceves himself who believes that the
question OF, What shall we eat what
shall we drink. and with what shall wa
be clothed?' Is presented to tho poor
alone-those who are exposed to anguish
of tomorrow without bread or shelter.
With those it is natural. and yet 1t Is
just there that 1t presents Itself most
simply. One must go to the homes of
those who have begun to enjoy Il little
prosperity, to learn how much the salts
faction with what they have Is troubled
by regret for that which they lack And,
If you would sec the anxiety for the ma
terinl future In all It's luxurious develop
ment, observe the people OF comfortable
means and above all the rich. The wo-
men who have but one dress nre not
OF those who ask oftenest what they shall
wear, nor is 1t those reduced to the strict
est economy who ask the most frequent
ly what they shall eat tomorrow, BY
Il necessary consequence OF the law that
needs Increase by their satisfaction e
more goods a man has the more he thinks
he needs.
The more he Is assured OF Tomorrow
according to the view of ordinary good
sense. the more he concerns himself with
the question OF how he shall live, he aud
his children. how no will establish them
and their descendants. Nothing can nor
tray the fears OF man OF means, their
number, their reach and their refined
shades.
OF all this has resulted. across the diff
ferent social orders, and according to the
conditions, with variable intensity,
general agitation state of mind most
complex which can hut be compared to
the humor OF spoiled children. at once
~, rs. ,l,al1 ,a1 tki riff bl .ki lie