The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-01-31
THE POWER BE-
hind THE THRONE

Everyone has a throne, even theI
homeless man who has no spot in
this wide world which he can truly
call his own; for there is momen-
tary feeling OF independence ana ter
ritorial consequence when after al
weary days travel he kicks off his
boots stretches himself underneath
an old rag carpet in someone's barn
lolt pulls the silken cover OF hay
over him and peacefully sleeps.
This is his throne; his rough shock
a. hair his crown, his walking stick
his scepter and the hay his downy
bed, with silken covers.
In the morning as the sun SHINES
on his radiant face, he reaches for
the little sack in which Is the bread
and butter that some good woman has
prepared. His thoughts are Of her;
she is behind his throne and now
happy she has made his w0ndrous
domain.
''Ye who believe in affection that
hopes. and endures, and is patient;
Ye who believe in beauty ana
strength of woman's DEVOTION
should list to the mou'nful traditions
4 sim sung by the pines Of the forest,
where the low rooted cottage OF the
farmer seems to rise to the horizon
only, and the red chimney protrudes
lust above that line and sends out
gray wreath Of smoke.
To have but one glance into this
little empire is pleasure, even 70
the rich whose enjoyment 1t IS 10
know more luxury than ease. But
he who occupies the little country
home, no matter how the world goes,
comes into his little dominion, after
weary day at the plow or in the
feld. unto place where woman's
hand has given him years OF life, lol
years of life,' is the worlds YER
dict years of life and love; without
these years our name and fame would
have been writ in water, but nov
they are cut deep in granite OF TIM
and better still, our gentle spirl'
lives in the common heart Of the
world In lives made better So our
common country man comes into his
warm open fire-placeN Sits in his el'
.bow-chair, and watches how the
flames and the smoke wreathes
struggle together. like foes In a burn
ing city. Behind him, nodding and
mocking along the wall with GEES
lures fantastic, darks his own huge
shadow, and vanishes away into
darkness Fragments OF song the
old man sings and carols Of Christ
mas. such as at home, in olden times
bis father before him, sang in their
Norman Orchards and bright Bur
gundian Vineyards. Close at her faith
er's side sits the gentle Evangeline
Thus at peace with God and the
world our modern farmer lives and
the modern Evangellne made as
sweet by world of knowledge, gov
erns his mighty throne and domtn'
ion
There is another man, the modern
business man who comes into his lit
tie dominion where woman's low
ing hand has made his throne. lie
kicks off his boots, thrusts his feet
into soft slippers and stretches him
self before the fire. Let the world
without go as IL may; let Kingdoms
rise and fall so long as he has the
wherewithal to pay his debts, he, Is
for the time being the very monarch
of all he surveys. The arm chair Ii
his throne, the poker his scepter anC
the little parlor of some twelve fee
square, his undisputed empire. 1t II
q morsel of certainty snatched from
the midst of the uncertainty OF life
1t Is the sunny moment cleaning
out on q cloudy day; and he VINO ha!
advanced some way on the pilgrim
age of outstanding even the morseli
and moments of enjoyment which
stand as his throne, for, They whit
dare to stand alone, are firm ant
strong and true, Strike for the RICH
what e'er they do, Tho helpers there
be none. Strike for the right ant
with clean hands, exalt the truth oil
high. They'll find warm sympathiz
ing hears. Among the passers by
Those who have thought and felt
and prayed, Yet could not sinsly dart
the battles brunt by their side, viii
every danger share
The world has produced many ex
empes OF greatness in the lives o
women; one of the Bible days beini