The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-02-11
AN APOSTLE OF THE SIMPLE LIFE

yearn for the woodlands and thu
meadows and brooks and blossOminl
flowers and singing birds, but the
season makes us prisoners of the
freside, what a pleasure it is to pile
up the burning logs, and read
days Off," or Little Rivers, "
or THE Blue Flower" written by
that matchless essayist, DR.. Henry
Van Dyke, Or to muse with
Hamilton Wright Mabie. over My
Study Fire." or to follow the viriIe
Bishop Quayle as he guides US along
the meanderings of a mountain
stream which he has just discovered
But pleasanter etill, on these
wintry days, is the privilege OF being
taken into the confidence of Our
Friend John Burroughs, and learn
from him lessons of the Simple
Life, which he has lived for nearly
four score years.
One of the most wholesome and
inspiring biographies which has
ever been ppnped, is that published
several months ago by Clara Barrus
on "Our Friend John Burroughs
Burroughs, the Naturalist who ID
the idol of thousands of men and
women, and boys and girls, We
read the biography, and then before
we have laid ii down, we find our
selves re. reading it, so charming is
the story of that life. The book is
largely photographed, and we
are given a peep into the soul OF
the great author who has written
himself into bis books, as few men
have done. We are made his con
fidential friends, and how good it is
to hear this apostle of the Simple
Life. tell us that 1.-THE really great
th;'ge. ~" pi'aoant things of nv
llt-, have betn without money and
without price, as con mon as the air "
That Il love life, . | want a
full measure of it as want my
spring water, clear and sweet and
from the original sources.
Hence l have always chafed in the
cities, l must live in the country
Lite in the cities is like the water
there, "a long way from the original
sources, and more or less tainted by
artificial conditions.
And 80 with Mr.. Burroughs we'll
climb the hills to his rustic home
"Slabsides." and reflect upon life's
meanings and purposes. as the poet
naturalist tells us that The current
of many lives, I think, is like
muddy stream. They lack the
instinct for health, and hence do
not know when the vital current is
foul. They are never really we'll.
They do not look out for personal
inward sanitation Smokers, drink
ers, ee-tipplers, gluttonous eaters
diners-out, are likely to lose the
sense of perfect health, of clear,
pure current, of which I am think
ing. The dew on the grass, the
bloom on the grape, the sheen on
the plumage, are the suggestions of
the health that is within reach Of
most of US.
Il see that my life has been more
of holiday than most persons. 7
have, on the whole, been gay and
satisfied. l have never been cog
in the wheel of any great concern.
l have never had to sink or lose my
individuality, l have been under
no exacting master or tyrant, /
have never been a slave to any bad
habit, as smoking, drinking, over
feeding. I have looked for simple
pleasures everywhere and have
found them"
Life has been to me simply an
opportunity to le1rn and enjoy. and,
through nv books, TO share my on
! vm"ut With "th"rs hrv, Nod
to know things and to make the
most of them. The universe is to a,