Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-28
WAGNER'S EARLY DAYS
influences That Led Author of ssThe Simple Life" to Write.
RIOH IN THE LOVE FOR NATURE.

f 1 Parisian Author Tells How He Wor- shiped the Moon and Found a Key | to the New Life - Says There Is True Simplicity In the United States-Its Value to Children. l Before an audience that occupied ey- cry bit of room in St Pauls church at Atlantic City Thanksgiving morning l Rev. Charles Wagner of Paris, author or "The Simple Life" for the first l States told his hearers of his early l life and training and how he came to write. the book, says the Kew York Tribune. John Wanamaker of Phila- ! delphia had charge of the Thanksgiv- ing day services, and he introduced Mr. l Wagner.
 Tn the course of his address MT. wag- ner said: .a~fx.sa
 "As I look toward my childhood days look toward. time that wasl full of riches and joy-yes, even though was a poor son of village pastor l but was king in those days, for ] my being craved the beauties of na- ture, and I had them all about me. I was rich in the love for nature. My father said to me, Boy, go, look and listen.' I was free.
 "Ah, soon was among the flowers, the birds and the fishes, and, as had a religious heart, the whole universe was to me a great sanctuary. even worshiped the moon The entire glory of the stars and the moon shedding their bright light from above filled me with great feeling of reverence, and one night when was alone in the open air, with the bright moon above me, I sank down on the ground and worshiped the moon.
 My father, am sure to this day, saw me from behind the curtains, but he did not correct me. He let me alone, for he knew that the father who spoke to the lad by the stars and the moon would soon, or when he was able to understand the great teachings, speak to him in the higher, truer language. My father made me rich in my youth, and shall always be a boy, looking, at the glory and beauty in the stars and the moon, and would not give up all of this for all the wealth of the world.
 sTf you have children, let them be children. Don't make them kneel down in houses built by men, but let them go out in the open in Gods church, where love and religion come from. Tn these days it's not the big chest and the fine face or figure that make the man. It's the character. When I was young man I lived among fighters for reli- zion. They fought not with the open heart, but with the closed fist-a regu- lar boxing religion.
 Tt was not long before decided to preach, to start out and tell others what had been taught me. But was lone preacher for 8 time. I was the preacher in the wilderness, and then my congregations grew larger and far ger, and finally some one told me that others who were not within the sound of my voice should hear the doctrine of the simple life,' and started to write books. When these books be- came friends of the people of other countries I cried aloud looking toward the heavens above, oh, my dear fla ther, if you can but hear the sound of your sons voice today as he gives you thanks!
 <'Oh, if you within sound of my voice have children, teach them the simple life. What have seen of this coun- try I find that beneath it's greatness and goodness there is the true sim plicity. The other day your president of the United States welcomed me and took ne by the hand. Though he is at the head of the greatest people in the world, and though he is one of the most intelligent men I have ever met, with strong will and force of char acter, found him so broad and tender with the love of his family and the people of this country that under stood at once his powerful and grand simplicity. It Is his aim at all times to be true to self and character. "If your children are taught sim plicity they will never be swindled with exterior vanity, but will under stand the higher simplicity in after years and become the greatest men and women in the country. Teach your boys to look toward the Man on the. Cross, whose sweet simplicity we all so we'll understand. Fill your hearts with love-love for the flowers, the birds, the busy bees, the trees and the beauties sof nature, in every one of which God speaks to us who so little heed this teaching.
 ''When the simple life is under stood in America and simplicity has been grasped in it's true sense, then will the nation continue to grow even greater and better"
 Canned Gown of an Actress.
 Mme Rejane, the noted French ac- tress, who arrived in New York recent