The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27
THE SIMPLE LIFE.

THE last week introduced Washington audience
Dr. Wagner, who has published book The Simple Life
Wagner said have many of the traits of Thoreau Ihoeau
will be remembered through Harvard but refused to receive
his diploma saying that piece @ Of eteed shePn m9q I bn
than he.
Dr. Wagner has applied the rule of simplicity sincerity
his book properly interpreted the life put by
President Roosevelt IN his book under that title more an
seek soft life Many have taken simplicity to mean
ess and enrvao and strenoty to evershness and
adventure Neither The simple life means strenuous
the ideals be helpful OF others void OF
envy exeon found build and maintain home
Wagner calls the substance and the show things
Senator Stanford entered upon examination OF the things
necessary n his comfort and existence and found that
Div these all on an income of $40 month He from
being nconpcuous example of the simple life Being entirely
without the ostenon of ownership among his pos
sessions stranger the foreman the
superintendent and the ambitious who cared tor his
celebrity the than he
any special division of society that must look TOR
the simple life 1t found everywhere 1t lives the heart and
mind and disposition than the artificial surroundings There
doubt that the American people have been going away from
simplicity life for than forty years The process seems to
have started the Civil War That fixed the national thought
glory pomp circumstance Gradually the difference be-
and show less distinct and living for
spread through all parts OF society an descet Dut an eV
The mams OF Ben Franklin which positive influence
during the first three quarters of national existence were lost
sight Of and keeping up appearances became OF more seeming I'M
portance than seeking the happiness by being sincere
the tide is felt We believe that this due
more to President Roosevelt than to any other single individual he
has every phase OF life and all his public addresses which
pendent and conented conditions which are the genuine substance
of things So he has said Il" remains has always
the old American spirit the old American habits
thought and of living Conditions the country have
changed than they have the cities and
there has been little breaking from the methods OF life which
have produced the great majority OF the leaders of the republic
Almost all of great Presidents brought the
Of them worked hard their youth and
early mental training the healthy democracy OF farm life
The the the farm, than other of
called continually the
think typical of the United States through all its his
qualities rugged independence maerul resolution and
individual energy resourcefuness The who W his
farm prairie in the woodland who grows what
material which worked into what still
nearly the conditions which obtained when he
amers% of made this nation than
any others of people
These other expressions by the President explain
the sympathy between him and Dr. Wagner which brought them to-
Washington They explain also the OBJ
change the direction OF thought and practice that being
all the country There everywhere turning from,
show and shadow The great intellectual organizations of the
especially the womens clubs, acceeatng this
awdry and garsh dress and decoration passing
architecture and all will feel the impulse 1t
will the colleges and schools The education OF
the people will lose its gewgawry and back the necessary and
substantial Life will lose glare but will gain comfort Then
evils viii disappear The simple life remedy for the d
will diseases than medicine
and viii aboshng poverty than the arth-
ca schemes for recognizing society
bad Sunday study indifferent theme
we'll enlist the of the secular
fascinating subject the platform