The Grind of Business Drudgery and its Panacea. 



53 



which he decided to do if by judiciously 

 choosing those byways which led to the 

 creek he could do so unobserved. A 

 rod in one hand, a minnow pail in the 

 other, this fisher of the depths of the 

 witness box felt that it would never do 

 for his friends to see him in such a role 

 as that. The stream had long- since 

 been given over as one almost, if not al- 

 together, devoid of fish life ; but, 

 strangely enough, as if preserved and 

 predestined to subserve some good and 

 wise purpose, a three-pound bass was 

 there to do his part in a tussle — a part 

 in which by the exercise of superior tac- 

 tics which the party of the first part 

 woefully lacked — enabled it to postpone 

 indefinitely the hour when it should be 

 yielded up to the broiler. In other 

 words, as might be expected, the neo- 

 phyte failed to land his fish, but was re- 

 warded by a bit of pleasing experience 

 to which he had been a stranger. A 

 new path was then and there opened 

 unto him not hitherto trodden. Indis- 

 creetly he had tampered with roast pig 

 to be ultimately overcome by its appe- 

 tizing flavor. 



Since that day he finds in recreation 

 what all discover — those healing, revivi- 

 fying influences which are above the 

 ability of the physician to impart, how- 

 ever skillful he may be. What does the 

 doctor say to you when that stubborn 

 disorder refuses to yield to his treat- 

 ment ? He will advise a sea voyage ; 

 may recommend a trip to the mount- 

 ains — to Florida or the Pacific coast. 

 ''Anywhere," he will say; "get thee 

 anywhere, old boy, so that the grind of 

 the mills of your drudgery may cease." 

 Knowing the true panacea, what he is 

 anxious about for your sake is that you 

 find physical and mental rest ; knowing, 

 also, that to have it you must get away 

 from that desk, the quicker the better. 



But you are indifferent and will not 



heed, and what follows? Presently the 

 quartet selected out of the choir will 

 sing softly and sweetly; the minister's 

 remarks will be tender — their appro- 

 priateness kindly not cpiestioned by 

 those within the sound of his voice who 

 knew you ; the mild-mannered under- 

 taker will press the button, and, after 

 the sexton, the courts and trust compa- 

 nies will do the rest. 



But how many will profit by the 

 inournful lesson that example made of 

 yourself of unreasoning folly? It is a 

 noteworthy fact that in any community 

 are to be found the fewest number who 

 may derive real pleasure from a day's 

 outing, or a week's companionship with 

 the rod or the gun. One may count on 

 the fingers those of his acquaintances 

 who are imbued wnth a fondness for 

 such sport ; and most of whom, if they 

 be persuaded to engage in it at all, wall 

 do so in a perfunctory way, with no 

 more relish than that of the coimtry 

 boy, who, after eating the raw oyster, 

 and being asked how he liked it, replied: 

 "Well, Mister, if you'll 'low me, I'd 

 a heap ruther keep on a swalerin' of my 

 slipp'ry-elm bark." Evidenth^ an epi- 

 cure in his way, but he had not been 

 educated to that degree which would 

 enable him to have a liking for the 

 bivalvular morsel. 



And so it has ever been that misguid- 

 ed man will deny himself of the best of 

 everything that may be lived for, 

 until by some interposition of chance he 

 be constrained to see differently ; where- 

 as, it should be his inclination habitually 

 to so shape his manner of living as to 

 make it most conducive, not only to his 

 individual enjoyment, but that of his 

 fellows about him ; provided, always, 

 that his conduct be governed by proper 

 and reasonable bounds of decorum. 



It is plain that our first parents were 

 placed in the garden to enjoy to the 



