The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-11-16

ness, plque, false pride or misunder-
standing Often with hands out
stretched in the darkness, Just hunger
ing for each other, almost touching,
when motion, SMILE term of en-
dearment, love light in the eyes OF
either, would bring them conquered
and submissive in each others arms.
yet a recklessly indiscreet word,
mean taunt. psychic moment of pos
sibility passed by unheeded, or ST.
lence that seems cruel, may drive them
still further apart. The stream of
fine sentiment and heart emotion
should sweep them out of themselves;
sometimes it backs water and engulfs
them.
,, 1t really seems that some people do
not want happiness or they would not
dodge it so successfully, and begrudge
the trifles it takes to secure it. People
who would be shocked at the bare
thought of actually destroying two
dollar bill often toss idly aside the
happiness of two for the merest trifle.
Life is too short and love too great to
sacrifice one hour through pettiness.
What matters it whose the fault or
whose the forgiveness? 1t is very
poor brand of personal dignity that
dares to throw it's desecrating shadow
between them and the Joy of recon
Citation and new bonds of love.
When the realization of the waning
of love comes, the two should seek to
forget for moment the differences,
the saddening changes, the cemetery of
dead memories and buried emotions,
and try to get back somehow to some
common ground of unity and under.
standing. They should seek to gather
together the trifles of sacred things
not yet lost. In the thought of these
| there may be vitaliZing flame of the
old love flashing out from the dull
gray of the ashes that will burn away
the dross of discord and misunder-
standing.
Argument itself rarely counts; this
is but an intellectual appeal; what is
needed is an emotional inspiration. We
should recognize conditions fully for
our own guidance in action, but it is
not wise to make evident our pain by
pleas and protests. Cruel words meant
to sting can be neutraliZed to a de-
gree by showing no sign of being effect
ed by them. There is a yellow streak
of cruelty in love grown cold; it likes
the cringing that shows it's power.
Studied neglect and cool Indifference
are rarely continued if they are re-
ceived with an innocent absorption or
| preoccupatiOn they cannot penetrate.
There is really little fun shooting with
these blank cartridges. An unexpect-
| ed kindness, note of tenderness in
| speech or act, the regenerating infiu-
ence of the sweet sentiment, and grace
| full attention of the earlier days OF
loving, may melt a mood of opposition
| that any argument would sOlidify as
heat sets clay.
Trying to get back to the fork of
the road where parting came may IL
Illuminate life and show the insidiOus
element that keeps apart two, who
should love each other. In the care
Of q garden there is twofold duty
| the elimination of the weeds and the
| planting of the flowers. In the home
| life the dual duty is specially vital;
| when discord reigns there should be
| at least the negative virtue of avoid
| ing subjects of inharmony, of cutting
off those things that intensity differ
ences, of stopping the fire of verbal
grapeshot that stings like needles. 1t
| is time for antidotes, and if you can
| not possibly give an antidOte, in mercy
give a poultice-not a blister. 1t is
the hour when two people should work
| overtime making allowances for each
other, and pack their sense of wound
ed personal dignity away for the sea-
son in tar paper, for it is in the way
| during such crisis.
In a storm at sea everything is sac
rificed to save the ship; personal dis
comfort, suffering, trial, hardship-all
count for nothing if the vessel itself
with its people be kept afioat. When
the life happiness of two/hangs in
| the balance, when love is sinking in
night of doubt, there should be
supreme effort to save the ship. Throw
| over pride, self-will, pique, dignity,
fear, selfishneSs, all little pet vices it
necessary, sacrifice every wrong and
even minor rights-just to save the
ship. Love is the most valuable cargo
on the ship of life. 1t is the greatest
thing in this world and the only thing
that will make the next worth the liv-
ing. The ebb-tide of love is the sad
dest thing in true individual life. 1t