New Ulm review., 1913-07-09
OR SUPPRESSION.

While .ona the road I have fire.
quently shads to "stay over" at coun-
try towns. And confess l know Of
nothing more dreary end lonesome
than poorly lighted rural village
in the evening with it's stores closed,
its streets deserted, and not q place
Of recreation in the town.
AS I write I am thinking Of one in
particular. 1t was Sunday. l went
to church. Heard q sermon on the
"Straight and Marrow Path" The
cxhortation was to "Forsakc all and
follow me-" The minister scored the
young people Of our age az play
mad and amusement crazy" He
condemned the spirit of the times as
self-indulgence, setc. His whole idea
was the suppression rather than the
expression Of life. The church was
less than half full, mostly women,
one solitary young man was noted
outside Of myself, and ! was not sur
.priscd.
After listening to that minister
for half an hour, went out into the
woods to listen ~ God for q change.
The day was clear and beautiful.
The whole landscape was softened
with green and lit with flowers like
lamps with many colored fires.
Among the trees birds were fitting
and squirrels were frolicking about
in glee. Here was dog-tooth violet
shooting its stars and there was q
trillium blazing like burning bush"
made purple with sacrifcal blood.
Here indeed was a religious at
mosphere. But the whole panorama
was preaching the gospel of express
sion. Everything was seeking self
expression. Here for instance was
wild rosebud leaning away from
the shrubbery and unfolding its rud-
dy lips to be kissed by the sun.
Expression everywhere. Suppression
nowhere So far as could discern
God had no place for suppression in
His divine plan. No asperity of the
hyper-enthusiastic religionist was
here. But for my souls health no
human discourse could equal this
sermon of the woods. No man-built
edifice could duplicate this sabbatical
hush. No mortal choir could voice
paeans as sublimely beautiful as
these organs of the winds and praise
hymns of the birds.
Next morning arose from din
gy hotel and spent the day in con-
versations with the business men,
editor, principal of schools, and viii
lage trustees. Most of these men
congratulated themselves in that
they had just been successful in vot-
ing their dance hall closed. >. They
had closed the billiard room some
time ago and had just saddled a
license fee upon the moving picture
man and restricted his hours to a
degree equivalent to prohibition.
One city "reformer" related with
triumphant pride how he had cited
a can to a bunch of them merry-go-
round fellers that wanted to drive
their stakes inside our village" He
reckoned now the young people
would stay at home and save their
money. But, alas, poor deluded old
pharisee, the play instinct is not so
easily suppressed. Instead Of stay
ing at home and saving their money,
most of the young men were board
ing the interurban for the larger
city where they spent more money
in a much more questionable manner
in addition to their carfares. Others
were leaving the village constantly
and permanently for the city as their
future home.
What else could any sane man ex-
pect? To be sure, places of public
of every kind need CEN
sorship and sane regulation. And
shame on the city or village govern
ment that doesn't do this wisely and
without fanaticism or furore.
F. J. MILNES.