The Washington herald., 1914-04-10
AFRAID OF PAIN.
n, EMoRY v. HAYNEs.

by EMORY J. HAYNES.
Are we afraid of pain. And much more thar
OUR fathers? An English prelste says we are. HI
charges it as moral detection an evidence of human
degeneracy. Pain is not the thing in the world
Taken as whole pain is blessing, real and sub
stantal good This has always been confessed by phil
osophers stoutly asserted by religious teachers prob
ably privately acknowledged by every thoughtful per
son. Yet it is true that the banishment avodancs
of pain were never so eagerly sought as now. And
with marvellous success
The pangs of birth are softened Do mothers love
their children less? The pains of dying are soothed
away Is this mighty natural act the less magnificent
because we are drugged? The most frequent call on
the physician is for something for this pain. 1t is
true that grown towards before pain
We are weaklings where fathers were
giants. And all this mostly because the
anesthetc is very widely possible Pain is going
II will soon be gone. The race will be the loser
For it would mean reduction of schooling, shear
ing off of discipline This life is not that fair heaven
ly estate where there shall be no need of sorrow
and no more pain. This life is to make men and
women of u.s. And there is no chse that can fashion
the marble like pain.
Meanwhile the baff1ed pain turks and fingers, won
derins at its rebuff But pain has still its opportunity
where the soldier boy lies neglected till he dies the
field after the battle How great he is How sublime
lying there under the watching stars, hour after
hour till he dies for his country. We almost forget
to pity him for thrilling admiration of what it is
to be patriot and brave man. Only pain makes
that greatness And still there many hidden places
where pain bless Every day of her life the
mother here and there, goes about her work never
free from pain.
Those of us who know it seek to help but cannot,
and then we worship her. There are so many blessed
feet and take step free from pain. Yet these
feet beautiful upon the mountains of that
brngeh glad tidings. These are they who will have
come up out of great tribulation and have washed
their robes"
The American nervousness is largely the result Of
the drugs we take to quiet pain.
When the nerves all let go at once it would seem
that there pain equal that torture. Ger
tainly it would profit nation to suffer many pains
rather than to lose its nerve. Some say there is no
pain, but that it is bad thought" 1t cannot be
that way. Great hearts those which have heart
aches and there many great hearts
Is il true that the attitude toward pain sharply
divides modern society? The laborer is not afraid
of paip. His whole life is exposed to it. rarely
day When he is not physically hurt more or less. The
machinery yawns hungrily to bite him. His scars
trast think of my lady of wealth who takes alarm
any small physical discomfort and demands her
absnthe
Is it not true that educated men, in every
profession, easily frightened by pain and fear in
panic. do they surrender and abandon the post
Of duty, seeking the foreign spa paying for expen-
sive cures, rather than bear some pang which the
laborer would laugh at?'
Do not ask me, seriously, how am feeling today
Of course, | was not thinking of my physical state
till you challenged me. My mind was fixed on my
task | am quick to respond to 4 friends courtesy
that when he asks me how | feel | at once feel of
myself And there is frequently ache that pops up
Let me not insist feeling fit" 1t is a mere nervous
CULVER of satisfaction, best. To be the lookout
for physical disquietude is slavery. Since right
side up with care, that is enough. ! out. So
do you. Pain, like loyal sentinel, gives the alarm.
We have physical culture" and athletic clubs and
youth Especially the youth How joyously it vaunts
itself! But forget that majestic line of the
Great Book:
Though high thou exalt thyself
Though with the eagle thou build thy nest,
Yet will | bring thee down. saith Jehovah"
And no man escape that law.
Meanwhile carry the pain OF fatigue, of en-
:reeping decrepitude OF the Joint with friction Our
oan has often made us gentle and mercifuI 1t has
separated the mind from the body so that thoughts
we're free, though the foot lame.
Pain has been the bond of companionship in fell
owshp OF surprising sweetness Our pain has turned
back from destruction with its benefcent warning
By pain have learned the rule of our souls since
he spirit in can speak calm to the clamor of
he pangs. We will not confess that the age grows
,owardly at the threat of pain