Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-02-16
The Simple Life
By CHARLES WAGNER
Translated From the French by Mary
Louise Kendee
Copyrt0ht, 1901. BY Nc Clure, Phtlltps d Co.

only to sweep, watering pot to water
plants, coffee mill to grind coffee,
and likewise 1t Is supposed that a
nurse il designed only to care for the
sick, a professor TO teach, priest to
preach bury and confess. sentinel to
mount guard; and the conclusion is
drawn that the people given up to the
more serious business Of life are dedi-
Gated to labor, like the OK. Anuse-
ment is incompatible with their activ-
tiles. Pushing this view still further,
we think ourselves warranted In be-
lievlng that the inlrm, the afflicted,
the bankrupt, the yanquished In lies
battle and all those who carry heavy
burdens are In the shade, like the
northern slopes Of mountains and that
1t Is so OF necessity; whence the con
clusion that serious people have no
need OF pleasure and that to offer 1t
to them would be unseemly, while as
to the afflicted, there would be lack
of delcacy in breaking the thread Of
their sad mcditntions. It seems there
fore to be understood that certain per-
sons are condemned to be always So
rious, that we should approach them In
n serious frame Of mind and talk TO
them only Of serious things. so, too,
when we visit the sick or unfortunate,
we should leave our smiles ut the door,
compose our face and manner to dole
fuIncss and talk OF anything heart
rendlng. Thus we carry darkness to
those In darkness, shade to those In
shade. We increase the isolation of
solitary lives and the monotOny of the
dull and sad. We wall up some exist
because he grass grows round their
deserted prison house we speak low In
approaching II, ns though 1t were a
tomb. Who suspects the work of In
fcrnnl cruelty which Is thus accom-
pllsIed every day in the world! This
ought not to be,
When you find men or women whose
lives are lost In hard tasks or In the
painful Office OF seeking out human
wretchcdness and binding up wounds,
remember that they are beings made
like you; that they have the same
wants; that there are hours when they
need pleasure and diversion. You will
not turn them aside from their mission
by making them laugh occasionally,
these people who see so many tears
and grIefs On the contrary, you will
give them strength to go on the better
with their work,
And when people whom you know
nrc I'm trial do not draw n sanitary cor
don round them, rs though they had
the plague, that you cross only with
precautions which recall to them their
sad lot. on the contrary, after show
Ing all your sympathy, NIL your respect,
for their grief, comfort them, help
them to take UP life again carry them
n breath from the out of doors some
thing, In short, to remind them that
their misfortune does not shut them
Off from the world.
And so extend your sympathy to
those whose work quito nbsorbs them;
who are, SO to put II, tied down. The
world il full of men and women sac
rinced to others, who never have either
rest or pleasure aud to whom the least
relaxation, the slightest respite Is II
priceless good And this minimum of
comfort could be so easily found FOR
them II only we thought of It. But the
broom, you know, Is made for sweep
ing, and II seems MS though 1t could
not be fatigucd. Let us rid ourselves
OF this criminal blindness which pre-
vents us from seeing the exhaustion
of those who are always In the breach.
Relieve the scntlnels perlshing ut their
posts; give Sisyphus an hour to breathe;
take for n moment tho place of the
mother, Il slave to the cares of her
house and her children; sacrifice an
hour of our sleep for some one worn
by long vlgils with the sick. Young
girl, tired sometimes perhaps OF your
walk with your governess, take the
cooks apron and give her the key to
the fields. You will at once make 9th.
ers happy and be happy yourself. We
so unconccrncdly along beside our
brothers who are bent under burdens
we might take upon ourselves for Il
minute. And this short respite would
a 4. 4. Al