The Washington herald., 1910-11-13
SUNDAY. NOVEMBER Is. 1910.
THE THOUGHTFUL SOUL.

OF criticism of an American citizen. a
he preferred to live abroad He was ac-
cused of being unpatriotic and un-Ameri-
can, and in justincation of his action he
declared that he wanted 10 live. He
pointed out that in the United states We
make too much Of a business Of this
matter of mere living-rushing AT white
heat from the cradle 10 the grave; know
ing not the meaning OF leisure; never
content unless we are in the rush and
turmoil of things; not understanding or
approaching at all the virtues and value
OF retirement from the struggle.
There is much that is Just and true in
such a complaint.
In this huge. hungry land of ours so
vital and so new, we still have lots TO
learn and among other things. and one
of the most important. We need to learn
how necessary ii is that we should have
a season Of rest. Work. and the acquir-
ing of riches or the attainment Of high
position. is not all OF life, and. indeed
will do US little good when this short span
of years IS over and done with.
We need, perhaps, to assimilate some
OF that Old World philosophy which en-
sbled Pope 10 write;
Happy the man whose wish and
A few paternal acres bound,
Content 10 breathe his native air
In bis own ground. ="
We are such slaves of the dollar in this
country that it is hardly possible for US
TO speak OF our few idle rich, except in
terms OF gross contempt man who,
having amassed an independence at forty.
should throw down his tools, whatever
they may be. and devote the rest of his
years TO rest and retirement from the
battle for money or for business SUI
premacy. we could not quite understand
We often hear quoted in colloquial phrase.
IAN elegant suflciency," forgetting who
coined it. and In what connection. II
was Thompson who sang Of
An elegant efficiency. content
Retirement. rural quiet friendship, books.
Ease and alternate labor. useful life
Progressive virtue and approving heavenr'
Hamerton. one OF the sanest Of mod
ern philosophers. in his Intellectual
Life" told US. Woe unto him that is
never alone, and cannot bear TO be
alones" which, after all, is but an echo
OF Omar Khayyams "The thoughtful
soul to solitude retires," written thou
sand years before Hamerton's time
From the age of Moses to our own, the
human soul has always needed a season
for retirement. We cannot get the best
out of ourselves if we are always in con-
fiict. AS Goldsmith wrote:
''Oh. best retirement, friend to life 5 decline,
Retreats from care that never mus; be mine:
How happy he whose crown in shades like these
A youth Of labor with aga Of ease;
Who quits the world where strong temptations try
And. since tbs hard TO combat learns 10 fly"
The thought of solitude and retire
Enent seems TO be repugnant 10 the Amer
lean mind which is alert. vigorous, and
eager of competition. We need to re-
member La Bruyere, who said:
There are sordid souls TO whom
interest and gain are what glory and
virtue are 10 superior souls; sensible or
no pleasure but one, which is getting, or
never losing: covetous to a farthing,
busted wholly about their debtors dread
ing "A lowering of the coin, absorbed in
contrast, purchases. bills OF sale. mort
cages and such instruments. These peO-
pie are neither relations friends, citi-
gems. Christians, nor even men; they
have money"
No; wisdom is not to be found in the
halls Of the money-changers. If it be but
given us to look beyond the present need
of things to the ultimate good of the
world, we must see how much of value
TO the human soul lies in retirement
from the battle that one may At himself
for the better things that lie beyond the
eternal hills.
Even the busiest OF us may find time
20 retire within ourselves. where we may
take stock of what we have accom-
plished; may reckon wisely with what has
yet to be done; and thus refreshing our
selves. feel our souls armed for the con-
fiet-not another battle OF selhshness,
but a struggle in the cause of better life
and saner and more virtuous living Well
for all of us if We could see with Thomp-
son that:
The fail Of kings
The rage Of nations and the crush Of states
More not the man who. from the world escaped
In san retreats and howeTy solitudes.
To natures voice attends from month 20 month.
And day 10 day, through the revolving year;
Admiring her in her every shape
Feels all her sseet emotions al his heart:
Takes what SIZE liberal gives, nor thinks q mose.H
For it is as true now as when it was
first spoken: What is a man prohted if
he shall gain the whole world. and lose
his own soul?"