Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29
On the Subject

On the Subject
OF ideals there are two opinions. The one
intimates that we may place our Ideals too
high and the other that we may not.
any one who lives daily by the inspiration
of the IDEAL, the power of the exalted mo-
ment, knows It's value. knows how the ex-
ultation of life is renewed by the chase
after that which Is just beyond. Then. too,
by comparison one learns to know and ap-
preciate the worship of the Intellectual.
This thought is forcibly illustrated by Oh
i've Shreiner. who pictures mother fondly
bending over the cradle Of her child and
while she fingers angels appear and offer
to bestow gifts of great value. Fame draws
near and pleads to approach the child. lie
says that the child shall have place
among the immortals and be known of all
men. Then comes Wealth, who promises
the child who has its protection shall know
neither want nor poverty. And Love fol
lows. pledging rich gifts. The last angel
approaches and offers neither fame nor
wealth nor love. His brow is furrowed, his
cheeks burr and the eyes ache, and he says
simply: THE child l touch shall never lose
Its ideals" And the mother cries: Touch,
oh touch my child" Beautiful indeed is
a. thought. When our ideals begin to
d. ne itSlllS 10 lose us IuSLt lie Jutctl
EEJd does not always lie where the most
u wers bloom or where the greatest mirth
rings clear, or where time is n babblfng
brook. Il more often requires fortitude In
Che path of duty. devotion to what is right,
, faithfulness to do those things of life
others have forgotten to do or did not care,
and then later comes the JOY of realization
the priceless gift of accomplishment. Then
the ideal that was is no more, another and
more beautiful vision lies just beyond. and
- 1t is ever with those who drink deepest
u the true life.
1lere Is
One period in a girls life that stands out
clearly and apart from all others, and that
Is the moment when she decides 10 be
woman. Linked with this as a most inter-
esting setting is the struggle through which
she passes to get out of herself and come
into that higher and other being which is
able to look everything in The face, adver-
slty as we'll as it's companion. prosperity,
and say Il can live. 1 do live" That is,
live independently. Live from within. The
child is winning and it inclines our hearts
to hear its laws. The young girl amuses
and fairly gains our interest when she
reaches the age of inquiry, that period
when she asks of everything and nothing
answers. The maiden fascinates.
"a child no more A maiden now
graceful maiden with gentle brow
A cheek tiuged lightly and a doye-like eye
And all hearts bless her she passes by"
But II is when she becomes a woman
that being between flower and an angel
that she is a terrestrial planet that rules
destinles. The chld's mind rests content.
1t knows when fear approaches 1t can run
to shelter The young girl looks at life in a
mist and wonders how she shall ever in this
wide world bridge the chasm between re-
sponsibility and achievement The maiden
dreams and longs for some one to whom
she may tell all she feels. The woman I'M
derstands and the world longs to throw off
Its mantle and reveal to her all il knows,
for she is so free, so kind so apt, so strong,
her goodness has no vice.
Would YOU
Rather be an old mans darling or a young
mans slave? 1t was asked In all serious
ness. Most young women will answer as
did the Irishman when asked: 'Tf you had
your rather, Mike. which would you
rather?" And Mike said: I'D rather not"
This is the exact feeling of most maidens
dreaming of the time when they shall be so
happy. They would rather not have either
one of these strenuous conditions or
course. to be some ones darling has It's fas-
citations, but as a rule they are robbed OF
the Turing qualities when the young woman
considers the old man. While to be slave
Is sometimes pleasure If the god worship
ed and served be Petronius.
There is an inequality about the matri-
monial bonds OF youth and old age that will
not harmonic with nature, poetry and art
Nature did not so ordain it: It lends no
music to poetry; 1t inspires no picture for
the painters brush. a true woman can
consent mo a,,ftr Ea,