The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-27
DESIRE OF DISTINCTION.
Quaint illustration Of Peculiar
Phase OF Human Mature.

Quaint illustration Of . Peculiar
Phase Of human Mature.
In "Doc Gordon" by Mary II, VIII
kins.F Freeman, Is a quaint Illustration
of II peculiar phase Of human nature.
II develops with the visits Of tho two
doctors to their poorer patients;
James drove all tho morning with
Or, Gordon about tho New Jersey
country, The country people were
either saturnlne with an odd shy0css,
which had something almost hostile IN
Il. or they were effuslvely hospltnblc,
forcing apple Jack upon tho two doc.
tors, James was much struck by tho
curious uncoacorn shown by tho rela.
lives OF the patients and even BY the
patients themselves. In only one case,
that Of n child suffering from bad
case of measles. was much interest
eyinced. The majority OF tho patients
were the very old and middle aged,
aud they discussed and heard discussed
their symptoms with much the same
attitude as they might have discussed
the mechanism OF wooden doll. II
any emotion was shown. II was that
Of singular inverted pride. II had a
terrible night. Doctor" said ono old
woman. and a smirk Of self concclt
was over her ancient face. Eyes. moth
or did have an awful night" said her
married daughter. with a triumphant
expression. Even the children cluster.
ing about the doctor looked uncon'
scIously proud because their old grand.
mother had had an awful night. The
call Of the two doctors at the house
was positively hilarious. Quantities OF
old apple jack were forced upon thcur
The old woman In the adjoining bed.
room, although she was evidently suf'
fering. kept calling out a feeble joke in
her cacklIng old voice
Those people seem positively clated
because that old soul Ii Sick" said
James when he and the doctor were
again III tit uukkys
They are" said DR.. Gordon; "even
the old woInan herself, who knows well
enough that she has not long to live.
Did you ever think that the desire OF
distinction was one Of the most, per-
haps the most. intense purely spiritual
emotion OF the human soul? Look at
the way these people live here. grub
blng away at the soil like ants. The
most Of them have In their lives Just
three ways OF attracting notice, the
momentary consideration Of their kind
birth. marriage. sickness and death,
With the first they are hardly actively
concerned; even with the second many
have nothing to do. There are more
| women than men. as usual. and, al
| though the women want to marry. all
/ the men do not. There remains only
, sickness and death for a standby, 30 TO
speak. II one OF them Ii really sick
and dies. the people are aroused 10
take notice. The sick person and III,
corpse have a certain state and dignity
! which they have never attained before
Why. bless you, man, have one pm
tient, a middle aged woman, who has
| been laid up for years with rheuma-
tisrn, and she Is fairly valnglorious, ant
so Is her mother. She brags Of her In
valid daughter. II she had been mere
| ly an old maid on her hands, she would
have been ashamed Of her. and the wo'
man herself would have been sour and
dlscontented. But she has fairly mar
ried rheumatism, II has been to her as
husband and children. tell you
young man, one has TO have his little
footstool OF elevation among his Tel
lows, even II 1t IL q mighty queer one
or he loses his self respect, and sell
respect Ia the best jewel we have"