The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-04-15

with the heaven of the future and more
with the heaven Of this present moment.
Concerted action would accomplish WON
ders in the way of providing for physical
needs and providing congenial social sur
roundings. We study the body to know
how to treat it in time of sickness. We
study the history Of nations to learn how
to improve our own system of govern
ment. We study the laws Of plant
growth to learn how to make soil more
productive. We study the laws of ami
NAL life in order to develop more de-
sirable type of animals. Is the prosecu-
ton of these subjects and the securing
of the means of sustaining life the high
est ambition of man and the end or aim
of creation? If man is the browning
work of creation, then a science of do
nestle life would be the most useful Of
sciences, and yet such a science has
never yet been dreamed of. BY skill in
using the forces of nature the cost of
production has been greatly reduced.
There never was a time in the worlds
history when a barrel of flour or gar
ment could be produced with less human
effort than today. What becomes of the
human energy thus saved? 1t is to be
feared that it is used like the superflu-
GUS energy of Europe and Mexico.
There is smaller proportion of hap
py homes in the world today than ever be-
fore since man inhabited the earth. Doz-
ems of cases paralleling the above might
be recited. The social molecule is being
reduced to atoms. In the early history
Of America men and women Joined hands
in subduing the forest. Now women go
to factories and other higher positions if
they can secure them, while men 90 to
logging camps and other places where
labor is needed. The ancient love of
home is rapidly declining. Is this process
of social erosion to continue? Is advanc-
ing civilization conducive to human hap
piness? Conditions of human life are
rapidly changing. Emergencies have
arisen for which no provision has been
made. These are times of strong ten
dency Tor people to live to the extent of
their income and old age pensions are be-
coming public necessity. There are
exceptions to the general rule.
When driving across the great central
plain more than a quarter of century
ago, called at sod house to get drink
of water. In that sod house dwelt
widow supporting nine children by work.
ing at the wash tub. 1t has been my lot
often to associate with this family in ed
ucational work and work in the grain
fields. When the children were all set
tied in life l was not little astonished
to learn that this faithful mother was
spending most of her time apart from
all her children. l was anxious to learn
how she could be content to he thus sep
arated from those for whom she had
spent her life. She told me that she often
visited her children and that each sent
her check each month as contribution
toward her support. She preferred this
method to living in the families of her
children, as the presence of third party
is always liable to produce discord and
she cared more for the happiness of her
children's families than for her own.
Not few families are broken up by
the presence of third party. There is
period in the history of the majority of
families when these problems menace,
threaten or destroy the happiness of the
family. This problem, of vital impor-
lance to all, has been successfully solved
by one family and that family were
raised under circumstances which would
usually be considered unfavorable or IN
fortunate. GEO, M. COLE,
White Salmon, Wash. Feb. 20, 1915.