The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1904-06-17
A QUESTION
OF CONSCIENCE.
BY JAMES HARVEY SMITH.

plain why a man of intelligence
should exchange ease for discom-
fort and plenty for privation. 1t
is admitted that the only reason
why one should toll is the pros
pect of future rest. To simply Sc
cure enough food to stay the stom-
ach and clothing to cover the body
need not require more than day 5
work in a week, and see what sim
pie shelter will shield us from the
seasons changes.
But we are nine parts luxury
and only one of necessity. There
must be curtains and carpets to
shut out air and catch dust; orna-
mented walls and pictures to hide
them; gewgaws and gimcracks
without number. Expenses in
crease with revenue, and the goal
of rest and content perpetually re-
eedes.
| have noticed that women are
not worried in such a situation.
Their entire life is a state of nery-
Bus unrest and they do not care
to change ii. Man is the savage
animal; he is perpetually recur-
ring to barbarism. He loves to 90
into solitude and live with the
beasts. There comes upon him at
times the passion to kill and de
stroy. He lays on the ground,
wades through swamps, courts
danger and exposure, and hugs
the disagreeable side of nature.
Then he returns to civilization, re
sumes his formal garb, and re-
lapses into discomfort.
Perhaps it was for these rea-
sons that abandoned a good bust
ness in the east and went west.
From Vermont 10 Idaho was far
cry Is years ago. and had no
more excuse for selecting the lit
fle town within the shadow Of the
mountains than a chance look at
railway map.
1t was Il mere hamlet of less
than 300 souls, but, being on the
spur of a railroad, was a shipping
point for hides and wool and ore
and had a number of respectable
shops and trades. With these PEG
pie, however l had no desire for
affiliation. l did not intend to be
ehurlish, much less Il hermit, but
had the desire to live apart from
my fellow men for time at least.
To that end took up a claim
three miles from town. 1t was an
exceptionally fine piece of arabic
land for that region, and there |
built a comfortable house of six
rooms, stout, with thick walls to
withstand the winters cold. The
household goods had brought
from the east furnished it simply
but comfortably, and here | set
tied down to peaceful, lonely
life.
| planted a good portion of my
claim with hardy fruit trees, and
on a half acre garden raised
enough vegetables to keep the
table we'll supplied during the
summer and stock the cellar for
winter. Ny wife had her flower
garden, and | set out plants and
foliage around the house. did
not intend that solitude should
deprive us of any creature com
forts. and | had not made such a
revolution in my household affairs
without my wife's consent. She
may have wondered, but she made
no objections In the Vermont
town where We We're married she
was n belle and noted for her gay
ETY.. but she relinquished her al
yantages without an apparent
pang. Perhaps it was only a WON
ans natural acquiescence and hen
intuitiye knowledge that in time
the fit would pass from me and
would pine for the hurly-burly o
the world as l had for its seclu
sion.
1t was in our third year that TIN
incident occurred that sent M
hack to civilization. Our littl