Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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6 THE SPECTATOR The Quiet Life' By BLANCHE sr. CLAIR. lGraduatlon Essay. 1904, HE WORLD is slowly returning to a state of sim- plicity. We see this tendency in our homes, where the furniture is of the simplest sort-no longer profusely engraved or gaudily upholstered. But this evolu- tion from the complex to the simple is slow in thoughts and actions, and the world is still in a complex state. We may wonder when we hear the expression old as Niathusalah why the old patriarch lived to a greater age than the man of to-day. The reason is clear when we review the lives of the two. The former lived a simple life near to Nature, the latter lives a complex life away from Nature. ln this commercial and scientihc age, man's duties and needs have increased with his resources. Indeed it would seem that man must live an extremely active life in order to keep up with civili- zation. The daily duties are so numerous and so exact- ing that a man scarcely has time to eat or sleep. The night is consumed in business or social affairs. Meals are quickly eaten, often at the business desk, in order that no time may be lost or taken from work. lndeed it is a rare business man who can rind time to become acquainted with his family. A constant strug- gle for luxuries and privileges is going on. Men are being urged on by their ambitions and inclinations. They strive to obtain the luxuries of life. Their homes and lives are the result of their strenuous efforts. Our worthy President, Mr. Roosevelt, advocates a strenuous life. By strenuous life he no doubt means something noble and heroic-the life of a valiant Rough Rider. By weakling we may assume that he means people whose characters are weak and contemptible. Some men have been detailed by nature as Rough Riders, but the mass of us are destined to a life not strenuous but devoted to the quiet earning of our bread and the per- formance of our social duties. ln the history of civili- zation have not the greatest effects been produced by men whose lives have been quiet and simple? Say all

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THE SPECTATOR Man an? Nature O'er the things of earth in nature Man has somewhat of controlg Year by year his mighty armies New undreamed-of powers enroll. Wind and water, nature's weapons, To his hand have been inclinedg E'en the swift and mystic lightning By his skill has been connned. And the evanescent sunbeam, Goal of every infant's dream, Thru the force of man's persistence, Makes to tlow a living stream That transforms the barren desert: Stately trees in splendor rise, Underneath whose shadows nestle Oases of Paradise. But 'tis not without contention That man thus extends his way: Shattered armies, battered outworks, Mark the progress of the fray. For old nature's powers titanic, On this curious mundane sphere, Wage with man unceasing warfare For the sole dominion here. And the vantage first with nature, Passing slowly unto man, Turning quickly back to nature, ln the end is lost to man. Likewise in domains celestial Are man's sturdiest efforts vaing Tho he smile or tho he grumble, Down will come the fresh'ning rain Or perhaps the feath'ry snowflakes Thru the cold and frosty air Uninvited drop upon him, Clothe him in a mantle fair. Not he alone by heaven is shrouded ln a robe of ,qlist'ning whiteg Deep down under earth's warm cov'ring All the flowers lie hid from sight. Here they pass the dreary winter, Snugly 'neath the frozen sodg Hear their low sweet voices murm'ring, Man, abide the will of God. M.

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THE SPECTATOR 7 you possibly can in favor of ambition and gain. Then think of the characters in history, past and current, that you admire, the characters that are looked to as you long to be regarded. Were these not all simple, plain, contented people? Would you rather go down in history as Demosthenes, St. Paul, Dante, Emerson, Whittier, or as Napoleon, Rothschild, Rockefeller, Morgan, or Rhodes? What afnnity to the Rough Rider have the leaders of social reform, literature, and religion? All of men's agitations for greater justice and more light have been movements toward a simpler life. What is the quiet life? may be asked just as the Romans inquired, What is truth? By a quiet life we do not mean a retiring from active life, but rather to find our sphere of usefulness and devote our energy to doing well what we have to do. Just as one need not exhaust a spring to quench his thirst, so we need not know everything to live. lt is not to waste life but to make it bear fruit. Nlodern life is so full of opportunity for activity that unless we are constantly on the watch, we are almost certain to dissipate our energy upon matters of only passing importance. He who would simplify his life must look at this life in the long run and decide what is worth while and essential. Simplicity is a state of mind. A man is simple when his chief care is the wish to be what he ought to be, that is, honestly and naturally human when he aspires to quiet living. That means when he aspires to fulfil the highest human destiny. The simplicity of olden times in manners, arts, and ideas still -keeps its incomparable value only because it achieved the setting forth in high relief of certain essential sentiments and certain permanent truths. The question arises, Is the world growing too compli- cated? lf we would follow all the avenues of thought and action which open before us, it certainly would be, but 'if we conine ourselves within reasonable bounds to that which we can do well, we can solve some of the complex problems of this life. No person can hope to solve them all. First be of your own country, city, home, and workshopg then, if you can, set out from