Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-12-26
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SOLITUDE

David, the sweet singer of Israel,
spent his early years among the fields
and hills of Judea, with only the gen.
tie sheep for company. In solitude he
contemplated the glories and wonders
of creation. He beheld the sun COM
ing up above the roseate hills in the
mornings and shining upon the spark
ling dew that lay on the green grass
upon which his sheep were feeding.
He loved his helpless charges, and
fully realized their dependence upon
him. He defended them from harm
and protected them from depredations
of wild beasts, even at the risk of his
life. While the day was yet young he
led them to the good, green grass
where they could feed to their hearts
content, and then to the pools of wa
ter where they quenched their thirst
and were refreshed by the life-giving
draught. When the long purpling
shadows of evening began to fall over
the landscape he conducted the sheep
to the fold where they could lie down
and sleep in safety.
Through days of solitude he medi-
tated upon the wonders of creation
and learned to "look through" nature,
up to natures God. Thus David saw
the Lord a. his shepherd, just as he
was the shepherd of his sheep, and SO
he wrote the 23rd Psalm, which has
brought comfort to humanity through
the centuries. Far from the busy
marts of trade, amidst the majestic
and silent hills he meditated and grew
strong, mentally and physically, but
above all, spiritually until he was
called to occupy n of the most i'm
portant thrones of antiquity.
In modern times we have too little
solitude. We do not 60 apart fire.
quently enough and m with
our own souls. We rush from one
thing to another so fast that our
nerves are tense and keyed up most
of the time. We are not taking time
to get the real joy out of life that we
should. In the mornings most OF us
swallow a hasty breakfast, glance at
the newspapers lurid assortment of
murders, strikes and world disorders
and then scurry off to work. During
the day many sit in rooms full OF
clicking typewriters, others are han
ding machines. Thousands are work.
ing under high pressure in noisy
places during business hours.
In the large centers it is hard to
find a quiet place in which to eat. In
the restaurants and cafeterias people
are milling about while walters are
running around carrying trays or
bawlmg orders. Business men and
women, as well as subordinates, run
out for a smack" at lunch. Many of
them perch upon stools and say give
me a wedge of pie and a cup of cof-
fee" They wash the pie, or sandwich,
or what not, down with the coffee, and
fy back to work. In the great cities
where SO many thousands are work.
ing, people do not know the meaning
of solitude and self communion.
They live in noise until their nerves
are tattered and frayed. Instead of
spending some of their evenings at
home reading good books, or listening
to the best that the radio has to offer,
they hurriedly dress to go to an ex-
citing movie. During supper and the
process of dressing, they turn on the
Jazz at most of the volume of which
the instrument is capable, and keep
up the noise whether they consciously
listen or not.
Ito be continude)