Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1908-04-16
DESIRE OF DISTINCTION.

UESlRE Of UlSIlNCllU
Quaint Illustration Of Peculiar
Phase CT Human Nature.
In DOC Gordon" by Mary f. Will
kins-Frccman, is Il quaint illustration
of peculiar phase of human nature.
1t develops with the visits of the two
doctors to their poorer patients:
james drove all the morning with
Or Gordon about the New Jersey
country. The country people We're
either saturninc with an odd shvness,
which had something almost hostile in
it, or they were eflusvcly hospitable.
forcing apple jack upon the two doc
tors. James was much struck by the
curious unconccrn shown by the rel;l-
tivcs of the patients and even by the
patients themselves In only one case.
that of Il child suffering from bad
case of measles, WAS much interest
evinced. The majority OF the patients
We're the very old and middle aged.
and they discussed and heard discussed
their symptoms with much the same
attitude rs they might have discussed
the mechanism of a wooden doll. If
any emotion WAS shown, it was that
of Il singular inverted pride ~ had a
terrible night. DOCTOR" said one old
woman, and a smirlS of self conceit
was over her ancient face. "Yes, moth
er did have an awful night" said her
Il
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 mt the house
was positively hilarious. Quantities OF
old apple jack We're forced upon them.
The old woman In the adjoining bed
room although she was evidently suf-
fering, kept calling out II feeble joke in
her cackling old voice.
Those people seem positively clatcd
because that old soul is sick" silid
again i'm he buggy
They are" said DR.. Gordon even
the old woman herself, who knows we'll
enough that she has not long to live.
bid 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
hing 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
speak III one of them is really sick
and dies. the people are aroused to
take notice. The sick person and the
corpse have Il certain state and dignity
which they have never attained before.
Why bless you, man, have one pa
tient, Il middle aged woman, who has
been laid up for Years With rheunl:t-
tiSm, and she is fairly vainglorions. and
so is her mother. She brags of her in
valid daughter. If She had been mere
~ an old maid on her hands. She would
have been ashamed of her, and the wo-
man herself would have been sour and
disconnected Eut She has fairly mar
red rhenmatisn. Il has been TO her as
Il husband and children. | tell you.
young man. ore has To have his little
footstool OF elevation among his fell
lows. even If it is a mighty queer one.
or he loses his self respect. and self
respect is the best Jewel We have"