The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-02-15
A SNAKES sHED--AN EXAMPLE

Last Sunday was beautiful day,
and for the purpose D relaxation ana
recuperation we took stroll into the
woods.
The walk was restIal---;he outlook
glorious.
Byrons' lines occurred TO us:
There is pleasure il the painless
woods
There is nothing more beautiful
than nature. In beauty. form and mo-
ton Gods works are matchiess. AT
this season of the year nature Is gar
landed in her ioveliest moods Tnei
modest violets are just peeping
through the ground. The trees are
putting forth their fresh leaves ana
some are already covered with bios
SONS.
There is a reason for spring ex-
tracing from poets such beautiful
and exquisite sentiments. The sur
roundings are SO supernal.
We sat upon a fallen tree near
cavern interlaced with tropical ferns.
Immediately in front of US Oh log
we observed a snakes shed. 1t caus-
ed us TO reflect and cogitate just lit
tie bit. Here, we philosophical
WAS a snake that had crawled ont of
itself and had left at least a part of
its old self behind it. That part OF
it had been cast into the discard Of
Oblivion
What" we ruminated, IF every in
1ividuai of the countless millions of
crawl out Of himself and leave at least
part OF his old self behind him and
look out upon the world from differ
ent angler
Doesn't one think that it would be
a good idea sometimes to follow the
advice OF the apostles and '1et the
dead bury their dead?'
Bury old preiudices and passions,
forget factionai and sectional differ
ences, and come together in bonds OF
fraternal and brotherly affection.
Especially so in times like these.
How delightful it would be to the
community life. How it would add
to the commingling of all denomina-
tons and classes.
Why nurse old enyies and jealous
iess
Communities and nations ought 70
be united now as never before.
Party affiliations for the time being
at least ought TO be forgotten and all
come together animated with a single
purpose, and that purpose being to
hold up the hands of the admniistra-
ton in an effort to win the war!'
Let us forget for a time the past
and the things of the past, and re-
member only the things that are be-
fore us.
Let us not be unmindful that many
of the nations Of the earth are en-
gagged in the most momentous war the
will ever know: that this nation, de-
spite its most supreme efforts to
avoid being embroiled in it, was com
PEELED to choose whether to accept the
gage Of battle arrogantIy and insolent-
iy put up to it by the imperial govern
ment Of Germany or else surrender
its self respect, its integrity and its
honor, so with the end in view OF
uniting our people to meet the re-
sponsibilities of the hour, let bygones
be bygones and come together in or
der to grid up and strengthen the
loins OF the nation in its hour Of per-
il.
Let's forget for the time being that
we are democrats. republicans, social
lists, knights of Columbus. Guardians
OF Liberty, Confederate veterans.
Grand Army of the Republic men, or
what not, ana elect to congress and
put in other Offices only those who
stand with the president SO that
vote cf confidence will serve notice to
the nations of the earth, to our allies
as wei as our enemies, that the citi-
zens Of this republic are standing as
one man behind the president
National unity and solidarity will
win the war and add fresh luster to
the flag.
w. NJ. Gist of Mcintosh, Fla, topped