Evening star., 1925-07-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

! folk reading good books that bore
them terribly, simply because they
| think it the thing to do one longs
to say unto them, For heavens sake,
| put that book down and get yourself a
copy Of a we'll known weekly and en-
| JOY yourself. Why worry because Mrs.
| Tompkins- Smith may think you a low
| brow? Let her think as she pleases.
| Please yourself once and a while"
! Observe, then, what thy nature
Wills Aurelius continues, land let
nothing distract thee; for thou hast
! had experience Of many wanderings
without having found happiness any
| where, not In syllogisms, nor in
wealth, nor in reputation, nor in en-
| joyment, nor anywhere"
| Many a man goes hopefully to Eu-
rope, to find he has left happiness be-
hind him on this shore.
Reading proves futile (syllogismsl; in
much reading is weariness OF flesh,
and of the making of many books
there is no end, said the preacher in
Ecclesiastes.
There is more than one man sitting
pretty" in wonderful house on top
of the hill who would tell you, If you
ever got close to him, that he was
happier 90 years ago in d little apart
ment.
To have ones name in every ones
mouth is pleasing for a time, but it
must grow tremendously tiresOme.
| Famous personages always impress
me as bored with themselves.
"Aint We Got Fun?" asked the
popular song several years ago, but we
tired Of the tune while listening TO 1t.
Where is happiness, then?" asks
Aurelius.
In doing what mans nature re-
| uuireS - he SuapS hack
! How can one do it, Marcus Aurelius?
IF he has principles from which
come his affects and his acts
What principles?
Those which relate to good and
bad: The belief that there is moth
ing good for man, which does not
make him just, temperate, manly and
free; and that there is nothing bad
which does not do the contrary to
what has been mentioned"
x x x
Here are more good paragraphs
from the eighth book:
'On the occasion of every act ask
| thyself. How is this with respect to
me? Shall l repent of it?"
''Consider that men will do the same
| things nevertheless, even though thou
! shouldst burst"
This is the chief thing: Be not
perturbed, for all things are accord
ing to the nature of the universal"
I'm the next place, having fixed thy
eyes steadily on thy business, look al
it, and AT the same time remembering
that it is thy duty to be a good man
and what mans nature demands, dc
that without turning aside"
Speak as il seems to thee most
Just, only let II be with a good dis
position and with modesty and with
out hypocrisy
Every nature is contented with il
self when il goes on it's way we'll:
and a rational nature goes on its
way we'll when in its thought 1t as
sents to nothing false or uncertain
and when it directs its movements Il
social acts only and when il confines
its desires and aversions TO the things
which are in its power and when II
! is satisfied with everything that is
assigned to il by the common nature.
Thou hast not leisure to read. But
thou hast leisure TO check arrogance
| Thou hast leisure to be superior tC
| pleasure and pain: Thou hast leisure tC
be superior to love of fame and moi
to be vexed at stupid and ungratefu
people. nay, even to care for them.
Men exist for the sake of one
another. Teach them, then, or bear
with them