The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-02-02

~ thousands of persons, hot and
spaHting under the complex burdens
OF san almost wholly artificial exist
e eng the gospel of the simple life
cones as hope-inspiring breeze to
thestraveler on burning desert sands.
Tit gospel demands the lying down
Of no really worthy ambition. For
the simple life is ever the strong life.
"Quiet men rule the world.'' When
did we ever look, for leadership in
any really important work, to those
who buzz and shine and waste them
selves in the persuits of fashionable
society? Did that society give US
Lincoln. Grant or Roosevelt, or any
other great political leader? Did it
give US, Bancroft or Motley or Pres
colt, Bryant, Whittier, Holmes or
Lowell? Did it ever develop a
Stephenson, an Ericsson, an Edison
or Roentgen? Does not practically
every one enrolled on the list of our
nations great owe his fame to the
fact that he spurned the little frivoli-
ties and sordid aims which character
ize society today, lived a simple life,
andsso had time for that quiet devel-
opnllent of mental, moral and physical
strength which ever prepares one for
climbing high?"
Yhe world has been presented, in
the8story of Japan's recent military
andnaval triumphs, with a grand tes-
timf.nial to the strength-developing
qualities of the simple life. Nowhere,
PROBABLY, has there ever existed on
SO urge scale, in any people, such
a combination of simplicity, in all
thef "details of living, with a high ap-
probation of things beautiful, artistic
andenjoyable as. is seen in the Japa-
nesk Houses, tables, furnishings,
clothing, are all of the simplest. They
maybe rich, but they are never CON-
pleA At meals-no matter what the
pecuniary status Of the family
enough" is always deemed ''as good
as 4 feast" No useless furniture
enc4mbers their rooms, no dust-laden
carpets the floors. The family may
have great treasures of -brac,
but Only piece or two is displayed
at aaime. So the work of maintain
ing eleanliness and order is small.
Being small: it is always thoroughly
perfprmed: and with constant clean
lines goes constant health. When
the Japanese soldier leaves his home
the scene of constant abstemious-
nessfeW wants and cleanly living.
he carries to the camp ACQUIRE fabs
its of incalculable value. in military
movements. and such a reserve of
strength as can seldom be found in
those addicted to more complex and
self-indulgent lives. The result is
seen in the records of the war in Man.
churia.
To those who query, where would
be the triumphs of our civilization in
splendid houses: rich apparel, elegant
equipages, imposing assemblies, mar
kets filed with luxuries from every
corner of the world, and the like, if
all Of us should adopt the simple life?:''
the ready answer is that simplicity is
by no means synonymous with
squalor, and is quite compatible with
elegance. The highest canons of good
taste are not observed in profusion
or in extravagant expenditure. It is
not certain that a Ruskin would ad-
mire Summit avenue more than a rO-
mantle village road, or that Whit
tier or Wordsworth would choose a
brown stone mansion rather than a
vine-clad cottage. as exemplifying a
higher culture.
High as have been the attachments
and achievements of the American
people, there is a great fund of moral
and intellectual power which-if the
ideals of the simple life shall gain the
hold they deserve-will be released
for the accomplishment of things yet
grander. We have mistakenly so
bound ourselves with chains-because
they were gold or silver, or ornamental
in a savage sense-that we have les
sened our better powers. Now that
the chains begin to gall, and we real
ize that they are void of essential
worth, there is hope that we may cast
them Off, and the aureole of promise
hangs on the Futures brow.-Pioneer
Press.
Co. G Target Practice.
< Company G's target practice last
Thursday evening was fairly we'll at
tended, some of the members making
good scores. The following are some
OF the best made:
] ] ! :.
Lieut.. Galley. 16 81 10 Sc
Sergt. Sellhorn.- ........ Is % 81 81