The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-03-05
"THE BARRIERS OF LIFE"

dearborn Independently
a young girl who was wilful and
wont to commit foolish and indiscreet
acts, often complained that her mother
was always a barrier in her way of
enjoyment.
If want to go to an all night
dance with WILL" she said, "or on a
moonlight excursion with Earl, or an
auto ride with that young man
struck up an acquaintance with the
other day, you always stand in my
way: always find some excuse for not
letting me go. You are always putting
up the bars You are a barrier. that's
what you are, mother, barrier!
The patient mother quietly turned
to the dictionary and, after finding the
place, called her daughter to look at
the book
This is what Webster says. Listen:
"Barrier:-A fence or other obstacle,
made in passage or way, to stop an
enemy"
Then turning to the girl the moth
er said: II hope, my dear, 1 shall al
ways be that kind of a barrier AN
obstacle to stop an enemy" In after
years the girl was thankful that she
had such barrier as her mother to
keep her and the enemy apart.
In all departments of life it is good
for the weak to have such a barrier,
to keep out the enemy. The young
man who is not in himself prepared
to Withstand the shocks and blows of
modern life, is blessed If he has a
father to bear the brunt of the storm
until he can fit himself to brave the
tempest
The girl puffed up with the sense
Of her own Importance, and the
and the thought that she is capable
Of looking after herself, may one day
be glad to have mother or friend
to stand as a barrier in the way when
the enemy is rampant, and there seems
no chance of escape.
The business man who, through lack
of capital. perhaps, or experience, or
both, finds himself attacked and is
about TO fall, who has a friend who
will come to his rescue and bear the
brunt of the fight, can count himself
a fortunate man.
And for those who are strong. it is
good for them to be a barrier.
Do not look scornfully or with dis
dain upon those who have not the
strength that you have, either moral,
physical or financial. 1t may not be
their fault that when the enemy came
they fell by the wayside. They may
have done their best but the enemy
was too strong for them. When they
call for help, spring to their aid. Get
into the thick of the fight. and plant
yourself as a barrier between them
and those who would do them harm
ana destroy lltHl.
Use your financial aid to help such
as need it; use your influence with
others when a good word may turn
the tide for some one who is fast go
ing upon the rocks. Go down to the
man or woman who has fallen among
thieves and Is being beaten and robb-
ed, and push the marauders aside, and
stand between them and the suffer-
ing one, a barrier against which no
assault can prevail.
And do not be dismayed or is
couraged If. at first, those whom you
are attempting to help do not appre-
ciate your efforts in their behalf.
They may impugn your motives, they
may consider that you are attempting
to deprive them of what they think in
their blindness should be theirs; they
may even believe that you are trying
to prevent their happiness.
Keep right on building the bar
rier that will protect them and keep
them safe and. when you get an on
portunity, like the mother of the girl
in the anecdote, lead them to the die
tionary and show them what Webster
has to say upon the subject:
"Barrier:-A fence or other obstacle
made in a passage or way. to stop an
enemy"