The Washington herald., 1909-07-06
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

like the term used by a professor
IN addressing the graduating class OF
a famous university lie made plea
for the Coherent Life" bridge be-
tween the strenuous doctrine and SIM
pie living The strenuous life doctrine
was one Of the most superhuous gos-
pels ever preached" he said, for we
need coherent thought. some idea that
will beat time for us and help our
ragged human regiment to march for
ward in order"
Many OF US have had those same
thoughts, but he seems to have been
the first TO put them into words. When
you come to think OF 1t you need no
urging 10 strenuous life, for we are
altogether too intimate with it, The
simple life we surely do need. but there
is danger Of carrying IL 10 the point OF
stagnation. We are a nation given
to halfway measures, and the encour-
agement Of the coherent life" might
dc much TO keep US balanced. There
are men and women living the ideal
life in which whole-sOuled work,
healthy amusement, wholesome resi-,
and an absense Of worry perfectly blend
These have sorTows, because tEey are
human, and disappointments because
the rest Of humanity is unreliable, but
both burdens are borne quietly and as
easily as circumstances permit.
There is a wide difference between
resuessnes and ambition. The former
drives its victims from one occupation
or diversion TO another-the latter urges
one on in a given direction with goal
always IN mind Restless persons rarely
accomplish much beyond killing time and
scattering discomfort abroad; ambitious
beings usually achieve something worth
while. OF a pretty girl whom admired,
It was said that she carried everything
she undertook TO the finishing point. and
that is why she is nov studing and work
ing instead OF idly spending the millions
Of a generous husband.
She began the study Of instrumental
music when a little girl and has never
allowed herself to fall backward in any
degree. She is the equal OF any fem
inine pianist now before the pub
lie BY accident she discovered that
she had a voice worth cultivating. and
possibly the world will yet applaud her
as one of the great conIraltos OF operate
history. for she Is under the thirty-year
mark and thoroughly familiar with all
the operas IN the three languages IN
which they are sung, and she is still
studlng under famous teachers. Sne
Journeys across the water three or four
times year for that purpose.
When she took up swimming she
learned the art so thoroughly that she
was able TO save lives and win medals,
not feats requiring mere swimming, but
the risk OF life and limb. She is pro-
fcient in many other things. but she has
never sacrificed her health TO work. for
she worked coherently. knowing just
what she wanted 20 accomplish and just
how FAR 10 tax her strength. All the
successful men and women must have
worked in that fashion, for 1t is half the
battle 10 know where 20 call a halt II
IS not given to many OF Us 10 be able
TO win success IN more than one line
but II an assured fact that many Of
the failures IN life can be traced 10 a
lack Of purpose quite as much as = lack
OF endeavor. II may De wise 70 know
how 10 DO many things. but ii IS much
wiser TO be able 70 do some one thing per
fectly-the financial returns are sUTer.
no matter how humble the work. There
IS a crying demand for good gardeners,
for instance, not Of the fancy brand. bu;
Of the class which can dig and weed and
keen the grass short, and there is a
good living in the work at . cents an
hour. BETTY BKADEEN-