Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-07-05
VACATION DAYS.

Wuoh NV 'hAiiA VI tilt uidn UT WO-
man looking toward the hills and
the ssashors i. filed with fitting
visions Of some atavi-tically suggest
ed past, 81 primordial delights IN the
days Of primitive race hlesseiness,
when all the time vas sounded upon
the bells Of paradise, how fine thing
is ii that tie present moment falls t.
i'll the volume Of the lie. The pre-
sent moment is filed with business
and laden With worry or imperative
with social demands. 1t Is the com
mon Factor of time, il is the unit rnl,
Of living, it is the unsen,imental frac-
ton Of a day. The present moment
stands for irksomeness, for duty, fol
doing. 1t has nc character because
1t has no past, it has no heritage be-
cause it mas no future. Away, then,
18th the present moment. Let it moi
bring It's demands with it during the
season of vacation Of lurements,
Instead Of the present moment, nm
couth and commonplace as it is, the
mind turns to the past and back from
the mists OF "Reminiscences come pic
lures that are worth more than the
product OF the old masters. Back
from the days that have gone arise
water colors and etchings and bold
oil effects, so to speak, that fill the
galleries of the mind. They are
mostly neglected, often covered with
the fine dust of time, but they are
there nevertheless. The present
moment stands at the door. Thrust
ing it aside as an impudent obstruc-
zionist, the mind enters the balls
that are garnished with the sardonix
and the opal and the emerald and
the ruby and lighted by the CLEAN
Of diamonds. Splendid it is TO get
within those portals. Here sound
the best things from the poet, noted
or obscure. who enchanted the soul
in other days. Here are seen the
fine conceptions, the ideals relinquish-
ed in the streets Of time. Here are
found the delights Of architecture,
the vistas of travel, the communines
with and acquainta' ces whose con.
verse was like the flute Of nyrnphs
or the pipes Of Pan. Days and
moments gemmed with royal prero-
gative are hid away in the halls of
the past, and remembrance, brushing
past the present moment, brings the
mind repletion of joy and gladness.
These nominations come with vaca-
ton days, when the present moment
may be best denied its claims.
Every man has been a poet or a
philosopher or a painter, singer Of
songs, teller of tales and weaver oi
romance. No man who has beer
normally sustained by the breath Of
life has failed to be seer or ar
idealist, or a conqueror Of the realm
Of science or Of romance. There ar,
only two things in all life. Thes,
are romance and religion, and wher,
is the man who has lacked then
both?
Vacation days are days when 70
nance rouses itself and when religion
hanks back to primitive simplicity an,
when man is natural. As much
part of nature as the vernal leaf 0
an unfolding flower, man finds il
vacation days, the sweet incentive
the delightful communing, the in
spring message of the wide worl
and the universe Of which il is par
All voices speak to him and all land
intone their song Of the race. The
he finds the present moment agai
stands before him With imperativ
! demands. He renews his bondag
to it but with a sense ofuntrammele
t freedom.-American.