THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



qualities shine in every nook and cor- 

 Jier of this capacious store, and are 

 practiced not only by the proprietors 

 but by their efficient assistants. None 

 of our Stamford readers needs to be 

 told in The Guide to Nature that tins 

 is the elite furniture store and so ac- 

 knowledged by the trade of the best 

 families for decades. Hut the tact, 

 well-known to the long time resident 

 •of Stamford, should be put in printed 

 words for the benefit of the newcomers 

 to our rapidly growing city and sur- 

 rounding territory. It should also be 

 definitely stated to those who have not 

 been accustomed to trade at this store, 

 that the prices are as low as can be 

 found in any other store of similar ex- 

 cellence. The house does not carry 

 worthless, cheap-John goods, but it 

 does carry a large supply of moderate 

 priced, thoroughly substantial g~oods 

 that are neither gaudy nor showy, but 

 in refined, quiet, cultured taste. 1 do 

 not know a store better equipped., nor 

 one more willing to give fair and hon- 

 est return for dollars whether few or 

 many, and I do not know a store more 

 'completely pervaded by a homelike 

 spirit. The show windows are gen- 

 erally recognized as the art galleries 

 of Stamford. Before these large, plate 

 glass alcoves may often be seen crowds 

 of admiring people gazing upon the 

 art treasures there displayed. People 

 who have gone into the suburbs to 

 build bungalows or log cabins near to 

 nature have placed their orders for the 

 furniture with this store. The result 

 of the increasing interest of those 

 whose homes are near to nature is 

 manifested in stock especially adapted 

 to broad, capacious verandas in attract- 

 ive nearness to the woods. This stock 

 has been steadily increasing vear after 

 year. 



The Undertaking Department. 



And now let us say a word of com- 

 mendation for their undertaking de- 

 partment. 



One who thoroughly loves old 

 Mother Nature and is on intimate 

 terms with her realizes more and more 

 that she never betrays the heart that 

 loves her, nor is harsh in her dealings. 

 Affectionate acquaintance with her dis- 

 pels superstition ; yes, even the fear of 

 death, for she teaches that nothing is 

 more natural nor more friendlv. It is 



but the open door to another home 

 still" nearer to the bosom of Mother 

 Nature. Those who thoroughly love 

 nature are freed from any hatred of 

 death because they recognize it as but 

 one of nature's many kindly manifesta- 

 tions of appreciation of her own. As 

 George Eliot has very exactly express- 

 ed it, "Those only can thoroughly feel 

 the meaning of death who know what 

 is perfect love." Those who look upon 

 death as a manifestation of love of a 

 friend will recognize the fitness of a 

 word of praise for those who in kindly, 

 dignified manner care for the enter- 

 tainment of this friend. Bacon has 

 said, "Death is a friend of ours ; and he 

 that is not ready to entertain him is 

 not at home." 



It is generally recognized as fitting 

 that praise should be given to all who 

 care for the living and inspire them to 

 higher planes of thought or action, and 

 yet when death enters a home, who 

 stops to commend the one who helps 

 us entertain that friend? The world 

 praises an efficient teacher whether that 

 teaching is in the school-room or by 

 books. There is praise for the efficient 

 physician or surgeon; there is praise 

 of the highest kind for the one who can 

 inspire to a holy life; but why limit 

 our praises to those who minister to 

 life? Yet while we shower words of 

 praise upon almost everybody wno 

 serves the living, we have few for those 

 who serve the dead. There are many 

 in this world who can get along with- 

 out a lawyer or doctor, teacher or 

 preacher, or even a naturalist, but no 

 one can long postpone the call of. the 

 undertaker. Let him come in for his 

 share of commendation. If it is meri- 

 torious to provide even a temporary 

 home for a living friend, it is even more 

 praiseworthy to provide a permanent 

 home for that friend when he leaves 

 us. Prominent in service of this kind 

 are the Messrs. Martin. Hundreds 

 have expressed their appreciation with 

 tears and hearty hand grasp in the pri- 

 vacy of stricken homes. Then why not 

 let us put it on record in public print 

 that none the less than those to help 

 us to live well is one who cares for us 

 after what we call living? 



Should not a home near to nature 

 through endless ages be as much ap- 

 preciated as a home near to nature for 

 a few decades? 



