The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1916-06-15
=. THE ONLOOKER :.
Word Sketches of Topical Events
By ''Ham"

Wlulln lily miles OF new / Ork there
town of about two thousand inhabitants that is
unique because of it's determination not to pro-
gress according to the accepted meaning of the
word.
The town has one main street with the usual
assortment of retail stores. At one end of the
town is the railway station-at the other lies the
school house. The chief industries consist of two
banks, brick making plant and large creamery
Most of the citizens retired farmers and we'll to
do in earthly possessions. If discussion of a
street car connection with another town is agtated
the town fathers frown; if factory owner in an
other town wants to locate cite, his advances are
not reciprOcated.
The streets spotlessly clean, the houses
are all we'll built, with splendid lawns and gardens
There is an atmosphere of quietude here; life is
comfortable and each knows the other. The peo-
pie own their own homes mostly and do not look
with appreciation upon outsiders even trying to
buy real estate in their town.
Many men from the big city say the village
needs awakening. They say it needs modern
zing.
Sooner or later, when the incentive becomes
great enough, n wedge will be found and the will
age will graduate into so. called prosperous town.
The main street will grow longer, intersecting
streets more numerous. With progress" will
come noise and blare, politics and business; great
wealth on one street and abect poverty on the
other.
The development is inevitable, but is it not a
pity that the price of progress should be
so great? Where now lives content, will soon
reign discomfort; the board walks will be concrete;
the streets will be full of changing cars; the clear
air full of smoke and foul odors from factory
chimneys.
The village is doomed because it stands in the
way of progress" but it's memory, at least,
not be destroyed in the minds of those who know
it's beauties and charms.
The constant struggle of man to brush aside
the heavy veil that separates this life from past
or future existence, often results in much misery
Science is gradually giving us a peep behind
the veil, and in time shall undoubtedly know
much that at present is unsolvabe mystery.
Just as we have learned tangible facts about hither-
to unrecorded civilizations so shall we learn psy-
chcal truths.
AS in all branches of science, the psychology
lists are constantly seeking new facts These men
are trained in research work and their work is
carefully planned. When discoveries of impor-
lance made the facts made public.
The average man is much better off if he
leaves this study to these men, There is some
thing so my site, so nerve racking in the study of
soul problems that the unframed student is liable
to warp his own mentality or, in many anthem
ticated cases, lose It altogether.
We can develop the BRAIN and that element
within called the soul, up to great extent, but it
is only by doing this gradually, and thus prepar-
ing ourselves for almost unbelievable revelations
in psychology that we able to add to
knowledge without destroying the mental equiib-
rum.
The difference in taste of the reading public
Of today from those of the past generation grows
more marked as one looks farther backward.
1t Is true that romance still appeals to fairly
large class of readers, but the up-to date novel
not romance, is the best seller now.
Books filled with characters that one recog-
nzes, scenes that we know plots and counterplots
that are feasible.
There are great truths to be learned from
novels of this sort. Courageous writer's more
and more setting the truth before us. Conditions
affecting the life rs we'll as moral relations are
longer concealed And, being more interested in
learning the truth about the world than ever be-
fore, the reader is demanding more information.
In time all this data, much of it stamped with the
truth of known fact, will be used towards the
ameoration of present day social evils
The white-hot, scorching blistering rays of
naked truth, will help us all to better under
standing of the twentieth century problems. Un-
I'll tho understanding ia nnrfact there can he no