The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-21
COWardly and UnmeaRing.
BY IRENE GARDNER

A s the two men passed the school
~ house. the children came out
"A OF the doors, for Il was the
hour for closing. The instant
they got Down the steps how thew
rushed out 70 the EtreetI The bows
screamed. threw up their hats. and
covered the ground. some By hand
springs, others by Jumping while the
girls hoped and skipped along with
more daintiness.
Happy ager' said the elder Of the
two men. ss he gazed rather wtstfuIly
az the children. What would I not
give to be a boy again. care free. and
cull OF the very Joy OF rvingl I've
Eee1 many ragged. unkempt news
Roy whom I've envied from the bottom
OF my heart because Of his Hghtheart-
edness. Look At that boy going along
with his cap on the back OF his head.
his books under his arm. and whistlingl
What does he care about the problem
OF lie? 70 eat. sleep. run. play, AMI
study as little as possible constftIts
his am for happiness. I'd give a big
share Of what I've got to be ike him .
The younger man looked at his com
panion and shock his head. You sur
prise me beyond measure said he 1T
didn't suppose you capable OF voiciug
such weak sentiments"
Weak sentiments echoed me
other. What do you nean7"
Exactly what 1 said. It's weak ana
unmanly to take such q view of life.
When you say you wish you were q
child again, you acknowledge that Won
grew out OF childhood"
"Oh. no I didn't mean that was
only wishing that could enjoy fife
again with the freedom OF Childhood
with no responsibilities, without the
memory Of DAYS Of happiness that are
gone forever"
II don't believe you understand whst
you are saying. n you felt that wal
you would be confessing yourreIf a
coward. Every year added to ones
lie ought 70 bring greater capacity
Ior happiness and make ones lie OF
more value. There's too much OF the
sort 81 sentiment IN the world that
you have Just uttered. and It's dofuE
no end OF harm Men think Il no
shane to say that they are blase. that
In life
The man was never born who could
exhaust ife's possibilities The quicker
he gets 70 a point where he feels that
he has done 80 the more does he prove
his nature Is puny. and crippled. To
get NJ IN the morning and feel that
life contains no attraction. that there's
little 20 I've for. Is the same as
though a man said. 7 am so much
larger than the world that 7 have even
now got nom n eli 70 has 20 give
me- EEntism, Cynicisn1t Corva rifcef
And here YOU stand on s brilliant
morning. a man IN perfect health. with
money enough to be conlfortab bic and
an active mind. and Won tell me that q
ten-vear-cld schoolbov Is capable OF
getting more out OF Tfe than vou cam
n that's 81. then You're less than ten
vear@ old You've stood stu. become
dwarfed. although You have grown to
mans stature
"Your Hes a failure II each added
year doesn't enlarge your horizon and
little longer 20 see what's fust beyond
out vou'W find still another horizon be-
vond and 50 n viii continue. even n
YOU I've thousand wears. You want
the happsnesS Of childhood agafnf You
man Of fftv, Even II you were $40
YOU ought to be ashamed 20 voice such
2 wish All there's my car. Don't
take offense AZ what I've said
ara not have said 80 much y
hadn't known that YOU didn't really
mean what you said"
The elder man stood rnotiOnless. hfs
cigar dropping from between his ing
ers staring after his companion pntfi
he had disappeared into his car. Then
he looked about him IN a. daZeS sort
NJ wav and said L declare" unier
him and he never knew II