Evening star., 1933-06-24

There WIS a dark border. and the in
sect was afraid to cross it. That was
the trouble
Patiently and persistently it crawled
here and there over an apparently
limitless area of clear glass, in its at
tempt to get into the great outdoors.
The window was about feet square
with a wood frame inches across.
At any time the insect might have
crossed this at any place. the office
window being swung free on all sides
! by means of a device in the center
| Yet the creature hesitated every time
/ it came to the border; the frame was
| dark. and the bug could not see
| through it; it stuck to the glass rather
! than make the unknown venture.
| Patiently it crawled from one side to
the other, lured by the light, and no
doubt by the sense of fresh air out
side
1t must have travelled hundreds of
feet. never venturing over the frame,
when at any time it could have flown
away safely if it had known how
human windows are constructed.
How long the pale gray-green insect
trudged there is no record. but 1t was
still trying to find the outer air when
the man closed his desk for the night.
1t was the Dark Border.
Men and insects know it in many
forms; it may be that always 1t is a
way out to life and light if only we had
enough faith to see it so.
In everyday life one will find him
self often in the position of the futile
creature on the window pane.
Patience and persistence are not al
WAYS virtues; sometimes they are doing
what the bug did, merely walking one
way. then turning about and walking
another
A little intelligence, a little use of
brain power, and one might more easily
and quickly come to desired haven.
Even more important, one might not
be disheartened as he goes along, as
so many countless thousands are now,
partly because they do not realize that
they are crossing a Dark Border at
the time.
EVERYDAY life has a number of these
window frames to cross. 1t is well II
a man will remind himself, when some
thing goes wrong, that this may be a
Dark Border through which he can
see nothing at the present time, but
on the other side of which he may be
able to see a great deal.
Ennui and boredom, so common, are
borders of varying thickness and in
tensity At times they tend to seem
endless, and so human beings shy
away from them, preferring to stick to
the seemingly limitless areas of freedom
and light.
Often the borders are much more
interesting, if one finally sees them in
that light Especially do they become
so, if they are crossed at last, and one
does come into the perfect air of a
better day.
Thus the border experiences are to
be welcomed, particularly If they lead
a man or woman into understanding
the value Of them.
Whenever any situation in the daily
life leaves a bad taste in the mouth,
regard it, If possible, as a dark border
Feel sure that If one is not able to
see the light yet, it will show in time.
This is faith Of the everyday In
times of perfect light We incline to
forget it, or undervalue it. but later
may be privileged to see it again as we
should have seen it all the time.
Life is not chary in serving up these
experiences to most of u.s. Everything
will seem plain sailing. upon day,
when plop! here comes the rain. It
may be no more than a foolish and