The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-04
FAMILIARITY
A Sense That Is One Of Mans Foremots
Reconcilers.


A Sense That Is One Of Mans Foremots
Reeoncilers
One q the foremost rcconcilers IN
mans earthly e1paienoe Is familiarity.
Tie kind soul Of fiisndlincss that lies
IA insensate things comes out to greet
him from has own doorstep, his chair,
his lamp, his bed, the dishes upon his
table. II meets him upon tln thres-
hold Of his Office on his shop and brings
IDS power to assist all the habits OF mind
and hand making bis labor light
It is true that in the country or the
village familiarity takes TO itself attn,
butes at once more engaging and more
intense thun II does in the city. This
Is because the country or the village
man has more opportunity to impress
lbs personality upon his surroundings
Tile city mans path is the common
payement-the endless pavement, for
ever repeating its aspects. But the VIII
lagc man walks the path his own feet
lave made, beneath trees whose HISTORY
i known to him. He knows the grasses
along ais way, and each year gfeets
the return of waysida flowers. From
his boyhood he has been saluted with
delicious o,loe o. bIo.soming crab o.
Wild grape az certain seasons, and he
knows just where these delicate hesalds
of home viii en,t him as be sets his
feet along the wonted ways.
It is impossible to live in the barest
room many days without establishing
good terms with 1t. It becomes a refuge
if one is troubled; home II ono is
happy. some strange essence passes
from the occupant into the walls and
is in turn given out again, 50 tlat
these walls vibrate With good viii
But there are familiaeitica moe UNI
versal than those to be found within
tho walls Of house. An men, low and
high, poor and rich. share certain fine,
kindly, simple things together. The
waves of Lake Michigan, hnshing to
themselves there pleasant summer morn.
ings stir one with their fundamental
familiarity, and the sound Is for al
who will listen. Tho stars Of these
bland nights are as the faces Of inn
memorial FRIENDS -fTiends who awaited
our coming, and who viii take lis into
the sum Of memories when we are gone.
And however far our iourneyings, tn
primal sounds and sights, the whisper
ing Of waves, the crying Of the wind
about the HOUSE, the shining Of the
constellation, the awakening Of birds,
the soft touch Of night dew on the
face. WILL establish between us and any
and however alien, sense Of homeli-
ness.
Nor arr the famiIiarities all known
TO us There are recognitions all along
the way reoognitions between ourselves
and others la the faces that look at as
neighborlyvsse on the street., and pass
fonTen; III the doorways which we DO
not pause to enter yet which solicit
us; in the roads that invite, though
we may not follow; in the occupations
at WATCH other men are busted, toward
which we feel an inclination. vet which
we have not chosen; in ADVENTURES Of
which we have not chosen; in adveu-
lures Of which we dream yet may not
realize; in places where we might have
placed our iponn Ind fate 10 arranged
All along the way We are companioned
by this curious, persistent and prevail
ing quality Of familiarity. II win 60
with Us to the end, no doubt. It viii
seem familiar 70 have Athe easement
slowly grow gdmmering square" az
the light fades finally from our eyes,
and il may be that familiarity viii still
accmpanion us into that land where the
angels play celestial football with Mr.,
BernaHsl shaw's good bishops top hat.
Chicago Tribune.