The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-06-23
To Attain True
Happiness
A Thesis Of Marked Ability on the
Subject Of Happiness and
Its Good Effects.

Paper Read Before The Chautauquo CIrei,:
Every human being is either hap
py or unhappy. Our senses are sub
ject to the various influences of Ma
ture. All around us are modifying
forces, good and evil and it is the Sc
lection of what is best in what we
see, hear and experience that is the
key to happiness.
OF our senses, sight in my opinion,
is the sense which plays the most
important part in m mou | d ing our
thoughts, actions and our very lives.
The blind live in an entirely separate
world, so far as sight is concerned.
Also the world in which the deaf
and dumb live is greatly modified.
Happiness, all the same, is expe-
rienced through and by means of all
our senses, (if we possess them alD
and he who knows how to select the
best of all which his senses make
known to him, is the truly happy
man.
In lower forms O t life, in the ami
NAL world for instance, happiness, or
what we term happiness, although
rect words to use, is shown through
the sense of taste, more than through
the senses of seeing, hearing or feel
ing. A dog is perfectly happy and
contented when given good bone.
Man somewhat resembles an animal
in this respect. Some men are hap
piest either when enjoying good,
square meal, or just after it. | think
the feeling we experience just after
hearty meal is superior to that while
eating. Wise wives feed their hus-
bands well just before asking spe-
cial favor-we even hear Of Judges
being gdined before pronouncing a SEN
tence.
The sense Of hearing plays an inn
portant part in gaining of happiness
What dull world, what a quiet
world the deaf must live in! Who
is there who does not experience q
keen and soothing JOY when listen
ing to exquisite music? What in
Nature brings more peace to the mind
and happiness to being, than the joy
full chorus of birds in the forest? Ma
ture seems to grow conscious. Ye
nature oot h es and sympathizes
Again, what sounds make mothe
happier and which she loves more
than t he swee est music, b
cooing of her infant? Even the ma
iestic voice of the elements in storm
inspire us with awe and hence max
us realize that we are governed b.
Superior Forces and therefore GU
thoughts are lead from earth to high
er realms where happiness is. 1t i
sly IdCt Ill any WIN
munity, the approach and burst of
storm seemsto infuse general friend
ly and intimate attitude of one t
another. Just as peace follows wal
quiet reigns after storm, SO also hu
man beings are disposed to be good
natured and friendly toward one an
other when equally sharing or eA
posed to danger. We remembe
reading of such demonstrations i
1906 when San Francisco was shake
up and partially destroyed. |
beginning to wander, so, when W
come to think how happiness can b
had we conclude after careful though
that happiness is not pleasure OF
tanned through bodily channels alon
1t is rather the highest and pure
state of being we can experience, an
so long as we obey the higher Law
of our Nature, SO long will we hay
true happiness.
Are you happy? If not, why no
Are you unhappy? If SO, why unhal
py? All! Yes! There are many re-
sons without doubt But, ask 20
why not be happy anyway? Perhal
some may say, How can we be ha
py when we are encompassed