The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-06-27


did not hunt. and seldom fshed, I do
not know OF anyone except this rug
ged genius who could have endured
such solitude SO long.
For us we had companlonship IN
each other and in Lenore, visitors
from the town whom we welcomed
cordially, neighbors with whom we
mingled, and books and music with US
always, and yet we were not entirely
content. And why? Because when
men or women have lived for years
IN city, unless they are thoroughly
disgusted with the world and all there
ig in It, they viii inevitably miss what
the city has to offer In the way Of
mental enjoyment
1t is Just as true that to live in a
city Is, at least to some natures, but
a slow process of torture. There are
many natures, Of course, born "boule.
vardiers," types Of sameness ap-
pallingly frequent in the towns, who
are happy in their way, only in the
towns. Their place is therefore in the
towns But to those who are awakened
to the delights of the country, and who
still do not want TO entirely discard
those pleasures of the mind which
find expression where books, and mu-
sic, and paintings and sculpture are to
be found. there is a practical half way
vantage point where both rest for the
body and zest for the mind may be
easily combined.
There is nothing in the mode Of liv.
ing in a city which is not more or less
tyrannous. You must do so and SO;
you cannot do as you like Of course.
You are hedged about by modes Of life
which, while largely artificial, are in
sistently obtrusive. You cannot breathe
pure air; you rarely drink pure
water; you must abiure outdoor exer-
cise you are almost certain to have
nerves" and indigestion. You are no
worse of than your neighbor, but he
is in the same narrow groove that you
are.
There Is a sound philosophy in the
theory Of life in the country near TO a
city. AS for suburban life. the or
dinary brand. II is, II anything. even
more odious than apartment life The
cliQues and asininities Of the average
modern suburb are something which
combine to make more than average
per cent Of suburban society mere ag-
gregations Of snobs and parrots
The trouble OF suburban life is that
the suburbanite carries the country
10 his once and the city TO his home
He gets up as early as farmer to
catch the train in to town. and he
apes city customs and society" Gus
toms while he is in his home town. He
wouldn't be caught without a collar
for money. Even when he works IN
his little garden he is dressed for the
ball"
Now you don't have 10 knuckle
down to these things when you have
gotten out little ways into the coun
try and you will be pleasantly sur
prised at the first sweet feeling Of
freedom from restraint. It is ths
ssAe way with both women and men
Zach one enjoys having a little relax
alton from the eternal drop, drip
drop. of the banelul drizzle Of con
ventionaliues, that take all Of one'I
time, and make leisure an unknown
quantity in the affairs Of life.
We left the farm with many lin
gering look over the fields and hilli
where we had passed so many happy
days. We left It with the unqueneh
able resolution not to spend the res
of our days in steam heated fiat o.
any such penal institution. Not Z
condemn Lenore to a 'straigh jacket
existence Of unvarying dress parade.
Not to look back over years as mer'
shadows that went by In the night
like dreams, but as real eAistenees
where we had lived and strIyen wher'
we could look back and say, in sacl
a month we were here, or there O
were doing this or that" and not u
have ali time be Just a blur, ont O
which deaths and births should crawl
like flies upon a window-pane
After all, we are not going to liv
for an eternity. And TO live wlsel
means leisure, both for mind an
body. Can you set It in the cities
Hardly, without great wealth Ca
you even them II seems doubtful
Is constant striving the answer 10 III
problem? "All work and no pla
makes Jact a duh boy You can &c
leisure Of mind best in the countr,
but If you are too far from city yo
viii be obliged to take life secou
hand from the papers and magazines
There is something more in life tha
the printed page. There is lie in IN
streets. in the theater. at the conceI
halls. in the crowds. in the pulse {
/, the cities as we'll as in the peace {
the country.
It follows therefore as the night th
day, that the wise souls will cleay
to the heart of nature for the eDdurin
beauty and healing influence Of he
myriad moods. and turn with just q
eager anticipation to the contrast thu
the city affords to the alert mind, an
the philosophic observer.
Filled with this belief we packe