The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-01-30

Ladies Of the Leaf Debate.
/ At session of The Ladies OF the
| Leaf. held during the pas. week at
the home of Mrs. Morris Sass, very
| interesting feature was the debate
/ between Mrs. !. r. Easoy. ll.irma.
/ tive. and Mrs. NJ c. Mckeuncy. who
nad the negative side of the subject.
| The question at issue being Resolved
/ hat 1t is better to do something worth
being written. than 10 write sc,I'.
thing worth being read"
Mrs Easley said:
/ Resolved. that II Is better to do
something worth being written. than
/ TO write something worth being read.
| The question which is better in
wolves the consideration, by which
ol the two mentioned activities can
one accomplish the grcato-t good TO
ones self ard to mankind I'm general.
/ | might. If | chose to be technical ana
without perycrtius the ru os Of logic,
.laim that the resolution proves itself
/ in the affirmative; because tac writing
/ Of things that may be read, hat is,
/ that are worthy to be read, the pro
, ductiop of gool. sound instructive or
plcasure-giyiug literature, Is in itself
deed, a thing done, jus, as much as
/ the doing of things worthy to be
( chronicled. Al labor is not manual
abor. physical labor, the accomplish
ment of actual physical decd. the pro
duction of great works OF literature,
of music. .hc inculcation of sound
doctrines OF morals and of standards
of life by writings that may Dee read
with profit. are just rs great deeds,
/ lust as glorious achievements as those
wrought By force of physlca' energy
| in fact they involve physical energy
/ he latter contain and presdpposc the
] former. So that | might say that the
real fundamental principle Is III" 10
4 'ag things. whether those things be
physical or mental achievements. Aud
| viewed In this ligh,, there would be
| but scant ground for the negative of
| the proposition offered To found a
case on susceptible OF logical demon
/ stration. But where so much may be
/ said for and so little against the af-
/ firmative of the resolution presented
scorn 10 be technical, | will take
/ IL In its broadest sense. In the first
/ place, let me ask what Is the purpose
| of life? This, of course, in one sense
| Is thci riddle of the sphinx at which
/ all the ages have been guessing and
which will remain ungucssed until
/ the scroll is rolled up and we have
upon II the light of another world
/ But of one thing we are certain-life
| Is action-'ieath is surccase from ac-
tion. Then what is the best life? The
/ best life Is the best In thought. the
best In spirit. the best in purpose.
How are these things to be known
and evidenced? BY action, action. ac-
ton.
them said the Great EXemp.ar Of the
best life. Do noble deeds, not dream
them all day long said one poet. We
live in deeds. not years in thoughts,
not In figures on dial-he lives the
mos: who thinks the most, feels the
noblest, acts the best" said Phillip
James Bailey. the author of one i'm.
mortal poem. Festus-and such has
been the burden OF the ut.erances of
the wisest of mankind of all who
themselves have attained to great
heights of achievements in this world,
and who have gone the deepest by the
experience OF their own great lives
into the mystery OF life.
The history of the world, Is the
history OF the achievements of great
men IN the various feds of their ac.
tiyities, science, art, industry. even
war. which whatever view We may
take of its cruelty must be admitted
to be one of the gre3 st civilizing
agents OF humanity, for human free
dom, the social freedom of man has
been purchased by blood, science, art.
industry, are are things done. the
mere recording of them are after con.
| sideratons. More than four centuries
ago there were no. = ttiOns sent out
asking aid TO equip vessel for long
and unknown voyage but Columbus
brave of heart, and inspired with the
! prophetic vision of a new word. went
/ and pr, sented TO Queen Isabella his
hopes and aspirations, the result OF
/ that work is ;oday our glorious. IN.
comparable America. NOt a learned
thesis or beautiful poem written
but a goden deed perfected through
/ strenuous effort. Alexander, the
/ great, did no. conquer worlds through