Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-08
BY MARY AQUTN.

Occasionally, in the daily raconteur
of the fortunes of the pubic, some Cir
cumstance holds attention and sets
one questioning the minds of men and
his own. More especially is this true
when the matter affects the heart, the
hub of life.
Seldom can it be made clear to the
onlooker on wrecked homes the exact
why of the catastrophe. and most pit
iful and extenuating facts often are
swept aside in just anger at such
wholesale destruction.
To the impartial observer-if there
can be such-most of the trouble
seems to arise from a desire to get
forcing of a certain happiness at a
particular period, with an escaping
altogether Of what sweetness there
might have been from plain Journey
ing along the roads of Truth. Sacri
fee and Duty. That hewing to the line
of these paths would fetch one up with
any happiness afoot is overlooked by
the excited, criss-cross scurriers af-
ter ephermea.
The most important section of a
mans life is the last cycle. Always
and ever advancing toward age, age
the goal, it becomes of great import
of what those days shall find him
possessed The zenith of his life is
that he shall attain age; yet too often
he would languish in the years of a
departed early youth or middle age
his chalice empty of those hours and
scorning as not worthy of having. the
distilled essence of experiences in all
cycles awaiting him al the end of the
road.
The world is awry. nearly in en-
tirety. on this point. A false teaching
that would keep man at a sucking
colt stage, forever niDbling green
things: never grOwnup attitude that
adores youth-the most unfit of any
stage of immOrtality's preparation
is di'Hed into his ears by every buck
ster of penny philosophy.
1t is not necessary that a man re-
main young: it is essential that he
grow old. There should be a setting
aside of childish things, putting on
of the cloak of Responsibility, this
garment to be exchanged always for
one Of greater weight, until the august
garment of serenity of mind and heart
is worn.
How much anguish and trouble Is
| made by this lingering in the lap OF
! spring or summer attitude would be
hard to compute. A greater portion OF
| the divorce proceedings, let US say
| could be rightly charged and collected
from this one source. Nature, respect
! ed in her laws, is most kindly mis-
| tress. She designed that man coulC
have springtime in life, with all thu
creative feryor of love- but once. 1
/ would be too depicting, very insan
ity, for him to endure time after tim,
the effects of the grand passions. thai
I which mOralists in these affairs ave
/ cannot Outlast two years. Then Il
/ work, to graver, not less sweet com
/ panlOning and the rearing of the ar
! chitecture of a home.
This is the instructive program o
loves young dream. 1t has it
shaping all to the end that, ensnaret
/ by the Responsibilities of youth, tw'
I shall venture forth; and if each hey
| TO the line Duty, leaving love to car
for itself, shall build the temple 70
! the sanctuary, the safe harboring o
all the things they have loved.
( But ever and anon and anon is tn
| foolish one the beguiled. who woul
return to the days of spring. with hi
aging heart stripped. and prance agai
through the delirium of first love at
tempting a mediocre imitation boun