The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-05-02
Che WutcaSt'S
Story.

G0r, S6IO MI. + dy, rol0TE1AS
to the topic under discussion,
"is we'll set forth in the old
saying: 'One half of the world doesn't
know what the other half is doing
Now, we are inclined to think that
there is an upper strata and lower
strata of society. Technically speaking
such contentious are absurd; philosoph-
ically speaking there are, if you will
pardon the assertion, persons who pray
and beings who prey. However, they
all form that organization designated
by the term society. Every human be-
ing is subjected to certain characteris-
tics which unite mankind's interests.
The most potent desires of persons are
to achieve distinction, or recognition,
in some particular respect-and to at
tain happiness. We do not perceive
the source of true happiness until we
have experienced a9ew of life's frosts.
Our first insight of the world is. OBJ
tanned from our parents. They may
proudly say that the boy, or girl, will
become lawyer, or muse, ETC., thus
instilling into our minds that 0fttimes
fatal germ of crude, improperly nour-
ished ambition. Aud the supposition
Is that the fulfilment Of ones ambition
shall bring in its train that greatest of
human boons-happiness. 1t is the
quest for happiness that divides soci-
ETY. into cliques, factions, and creates
our four hundreds and underworld.
1t is no mere idle fsllacy to suppose
that there never was person who did
not aim to follow the paths of recti-
tude, but many have switched onto
side tracks for no other object than to
secure their position of happiness with
out effort. This switching has caused
much unhappiness. But enough NOR
alizing for the present, as wish to
relate to you the story of an outcast.
"The overland was sidetracked at
Oberlin; Tom Linn, Jerry Marlin, Bob
Sharp and myself were in the smoking
car Willing away the time in a friendly
game of cards and swapping yarns
The conductor had informed us that
owing to wreck ahead, it would be
several hours before we left Oberlin
Therefore we bad to kill time. This
we were doing when we were suddenly
interrupted by young man, whose sp
pearance stamped him as either pup
pet of Dame Fortune or one of society''
: outcasts. He stood watching US few
: seconds then said: Gentlemen, m!
:, rudeness in interrupting you is,
!, know, objectionable, but circum
stances beyond my immediate contro
r makes it imperative for me to appea
s to your generosity for the means t.
= keep body and soul together until
Q have fulfilled the mission which in
q duced the Great Jehovah to place m
!, on this mundane sphere. Ideplore tn
Q necessity of existing on charitable con
, tributions, but I am unfortunatel
compelled to resort to such method
d to obtain the nourishipg substanc
F. that the material part of human be
Q ing demands; ana 1t consequently fol
It lows that charitabley disposed person
Q assist, or enable, me to obtain the ha
( bilimept necessary to protect the ply
It sique from the ever-vsrying, atmos
II pheric conditions of the weather.
o "'Sirs, my career has been sad enoug
l. to melt the statue of liberty, whic
r. greets the eyes of foreigners who see
b surcease Of sorrow by coming to on
70 fair land-Amerioa. Only q decad
II, ago was one Of those proverbiall