Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-03-21
CLEVELAND'S PHIL
OSOPY OF LIFE
EX PRESIDENTS COMMENT on
THE SUGGESTION THAT
HIS BIRTHDAY BE OBJ
SERVED As A HOLI-
DAY.

The essential part OF President
Finley's suggestion, as / see it, is
not that March Is be added to the
number OF our national holidays. but
that day be set apart to do honor
to the simple virtues and simple
pleasures that gave strength to the
character of our American ancestry.
Considering ii from this impersonal
standpoint | am free to say that il
would be a great service to impress
this idea upon the American people.
| look with apprehension upon the
wealth-mad rush of American life.
which is certain to impair the mental
and physical vigor necessary to every
human being. The wholesome sen
timents which spring from country
lie are being overwhelmed bv the
ambitions and tendencies that flow
out from our great cities. Few,
nave the hardihood to withstand the
swirl and rush of city life. or to re-
main Indifferent to the promises or
sudden wealth and the excitement
OF speculation in METROPOLIS whore
immense fortunes are made and lost
In single day. | believe that wo
must set ourselves against the falIacv
that city life is the easier and tho
most productive of happiness. We
are proud of our cities, OF course.
But we must not allow them wholly
10 shape our ideals and orr ambi-
tons' Nothing that the wealth OF q
city can buy will atone for the loss
or that American sturdiness and in
dependence which the farm and the
small town have so frequently nro-
duced
Recently in reading the letters Of
George Washington I was IMPRESSED
oy the earnestness with which bo
pleaded to be allowed to remain IN
'he retirement of his country homo
at Mount Vernon. He was y Iovor
OF the simple. outdoor life. as Daniel
webster and many other great Amer
'Ne'h statesmen have been
But today even our farmers oro
not contented with their farms Tboro
was a time when farms descando5
from father to son, often remaining
IN the family for more than bur.
urea years, but now I baDnen unor
many instances in which the hove
nave left the farm and become waco-
earners In some store or factory
Inc strong love of outdoor rec
reation' unfortunately is not nossas-
sed by every one; yet nature has
made 1t a law that every one is in
need mentally and physically. of re-
taxation in the open air. And in
these times of dollar-chasinp MANY
OF the most vital necessities Of .
normal human life are being neglect
ed
Is it not true that the higher
agencies which have been especially
effective in the refinement of human
nature have derived their life and
influence from rural surroundings?
In my experience | have found that
Impressions which a man receives
who walks by the brookside or I'm
the forest or by the seashore make
MIN better man and better citi-
zen. They lift him above the worries
or business and tell him OF power
greater than human power. II is
unquestionably true that nearness to
nature has an elevating influence
upon heart and character Nature
Is school Of all the harder virtues
What, for instance, can impart a
more effective lesson i'm patience
than days fishing for the whlmd-
cal black bass?
AS I have said on a previous oc-
casion. the real worth and genuine
ness Of the human heart are meas
ured best by its readiness TO submit
to the influence of nature. and To-
appreciate the goodness of the sp-
preme power who IS the Creator
This is the central point of mvt
philosophy Of life
We need more of these old-fasb-
Toned conscientious folk who ad-
here to the simple way of living and
who believe that every fortune should
be learned honestly and fairly by the
man who gets &C. The history OF our
country shows that the citizen who.
lives close To- the soil and to the ln-
fuence Of nature SIS far more ant N
shape his own political convictions
instead Of being mere obodiant
fraction ~ "a political machine rrr
is certain TO be more saff-ref. .f
and more stubborn 1 hold.ng fsf
20 bic own idea Of what is right
No matter how wonderful tho r.a.
gress Of the future may be. the
standard virtues Of Independence. 81.
dustry honesty and patriotism can
never be improved A. long Az tho
world lasts they viii Doe tho bas
Of true national greatness and bro
perity From an Interview
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