The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-15


mistlc little sermons on modern life will
be found In Our Common Road. by
AGNES EDWARDS (Houghton Mifiin).
While addressed TO readers Of the au-
thor's own sex. wide range OF topic,
sincerity Of motive and simplicity Of
manner make these bits OF practlca,
preaching commendabl for general con.
sumption. The things that do and that do
not matter: the little every day tasks
and problems: "orientation" In life. and
the correct estimation Of success and
failure: bargains and friendship and
happiness snobbishnees and memories
nature and dreams. paying the price :"
the furnishing Of houses and minds
dealing with "d!fiicur" people. running
around and being usefully busy are
few OF the many topics. Always the
endeavor Is to separate the things that
count from those that do not: and
Il Is done without afYectation. without
presumptuous pose.
Why be tyrannized by saiesfolk? The
girl at the mlliner's remarks. loftily
"Of course you cannot get any smart
hat for less than SIS" Shall you muir
muir. "Oh, OF course not: show me some.
thing at that price"-you who will r.-
ki't tlOTlP TOT every penny
over s1.3e-or will you reflect that the
'of'y one covers her own head for a
dollar ninety-eight. or mavbe less and
hravely do your own buying? That
'ordly' overb"arine walter: not on squah
mas he dined. The bored aristocrat In
the box Office who scares you UP dol
lar In your investment for an evenings
entertainment: a dime snficeth paid
n nj the movies. for his delnctation on
NIGHTS on. Let us stand together
pluck up our courage. look them
suuarely in the eve and say firmly: 7
want the best I can get for the money.
ana this Is all the money I have Ito
snend).' Perhaps We can free ourselves
from this ancient and ignom!niou-
bondage and begin to save our money
and get what We really want" Proha-
bly, the reputed holder sex has more
reason To take this little sermon to
heart than the dry goods sex to whom II
II directed. Masculine vanity IL clav
in the hands OF the bully at the COL
lection Of custom
useful bit OF philosophy Is the re-
hection that there Is ..lways something
Use" When We are young. in year.
and in experience. We want what We
want when We want It: there IL moth inr
that can take the place Of that one
thing. II Is the universal experience
however, that when you cannot get
what you want the sure way to the
salvation Of your happiness is to want
what you can get. II everything else
on the bin Of fare falls to suit your
taste. appetite can always I've appea sed
on plain bread AMI butter and III.
penalties OF indigestion are forestalled
You have n friend without whom life
would he uncomfortable. The friendship
IL broken; you survey the ruins and
think there IL nothing left. Time Neals
he wound: life goes on. and Is not
wen empty. There are no vacuum.
IN nature or in human hearts Other
birds come back 10 sing In our wind
blown trees. other children come troop-
ing to the deserted house. other fires
are lit upon the empty hearts. and
fresh riNulets trlckle down parrhe'
channels. And We realize that we need
not have suffered so terribly long ago
II we had only believed then what we
know now, that no matter what hap
pens there Is always something else"
We find what we Seek, we see wha-
we are looking for. II you like wha'
YOU See in life You are happy; II not
look for something else. change tho
point Of view. I'VE see what We want
10 see, or what We have formed the
habit Of seeing. The scientist gathers
Everywhere facts to substantiate his
'heory; the minister finds text ir
very conversations the pessimist is
credited with systematically clear vision
n regard to the holes In doughnuts
What do you see" What are YOU look
ing for?" 1t IL rather elementary
preaching, but the truth Ia always sim
pie. Preached originally from a news
paper pulpit. these sermonettcs exhibit
practical sincerity with a freshness
of spirit not always to be recognize
= wore ambitiously promulgated homi.
ietios.