Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-12-15

And to this same category, little
matter what their station In life, be-
long the proAIgnte, the arrogant, the
misery, the weak, the crafty. Livery
counts for nothing; we must see the
heart. No class has the prerogatlve
of simplicity; no dress, however hum
BILE IN appearance, IL Its unfnlllng
badge. Its dwelling need not be n
gnrret, hut, the cell OF the ascetic
nor the lowliest fishcrmans bark. I'm
der all the forms IN which life vests
ITSELF In all social positions, ut the
top M Mt the bottom Of the ladder.
there are people who live simply and
others who do not. We do not mean
by this that simplicity betrays itself
In no visible signs, has not Its own
habits, It's distinguishing tastes and
ways; but this outward show, which
may now and then be countcrfeitcd,
must not be COMPOUNDED with It's es,
aence and its deep and wholly inward
source Simplicity IL II state of mind.
II dwclls In the main intention OF our
lives. A man Is simple when his
fUlpI cure III lllt WlHH w Jt W llali Nv
ought TO bc-thnt IL, honestly and nat
urnlly human. And this IL neither 80
cnsy nor so impossible as one might
think At bottom 1t consists IN put
ting our acts and aspirations In nc
cordance with tho Inv OF our being,
and consequently with the eternal In
tcntlon which willed TINT wo should
be nj all. Let II flower be n flower, n
swallow swallow, n rock rock, and
let n man be man, and not n fox, II
hare, hog or bird OF prcy. This IL
the sum OF the whole matter.
Here We are led to formulate the
practical ideal OF man. Everywhere
IN life we see certain quantities or
matter and energy associated for Ger
thin ends. Substances more or less
crude arc thus transformed and car
ricd to n higher degree Of organization.
II IL not otherwise with the life of
man. The human ideal IL to trans
form life into something more excel
lent thnn itself. We may compare ex.
istcncc 10 raw material. What 1t IL
matters less than what IL made of IT,
ns the value of work of art lies
In the Towering of the workman's
skill We bring into the world with us
different gifts. one has received gold,
another granite, II third marble, most
OF ua wood or clny. our task In to
fashion these substances, Every ono
knows that the most precious material
may be spoiled and he knows, too.
TINT out OF the least costly nm immor-
tai work may be shaped, Art IL the
realization OF n permanent idea In M
cphemcral form. True life Is the
realization of the higher Vlrtues-Jus-
ticc, love, truth, liberty, moral power.
In our daily activities, whatever they
may be. And this life II possible In
social conditions the most diverse and
with natural gifts the most unequal.
II IL not fortune or personal advnn.
tnge, but our turning them to nc
count, that constitutes tho value of
life. Fame adds no more than does
length Of days. Quality IL the thing.
Need we say TINT one does not rise
to this point OF view without strug-
glo2 The spirit OF simplicity IL not nm
Inherited gift, but the result of II lnho-
rious conquest. Plain living, like high
thinking, is simplhcation, We know
that science Is the handful of ultimate
principles gathered out OF the tufted
mass OF facts, but whit groupings to
discover theml Centuries of research
nre often condensed Into II principle
that line may state. Here the moral
life presents strong analogy with the
scientific. 1t, too, begins In II certain
confusion, makes trial of itself, seeks
to understand itself, and often mis-.
takes, But by dlnt OF action and OK
acting from himself strict account of
his deeds man arrives Mt better
knowledge OF life, Its law appears to
him, and the law Is this Work out
your mission. He who applies himself
TO aught else than the realization of
this end loses In living the raiSon d'ctro
OF life. The cgotst does SO, the plens-
urc seeker, the ambitious; he con
sumcs existence ms one eating the full
corn In the blade; he prevents II from
bearing It's fruit, his life Is lost. Who
ever, ON the contrary, makes his life
serve good higher than itself, saves II
In giving It. Moral preeepts which TO
superficial view appear arbitrary and
seem made to spoil our zest for life
have really but one object to preserve
liz from the evil Of having lived In
vain. That IL why they ARE constantly
leading us back into the same paths;
that Is why they all have the same
meaning DO not waste your life; make
Il bear fruit: learn how TO give It in
order that II may not consume ITSELF
Herein Is summed up the experience Of
humanity, and this experience, which