Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, December 12, 1909, EDITORIAL, Page 5, Image 13

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    5
B
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: DECEMBER 12. 10W.
1 utfiiwrmw
What Shall It Profit a Man?
sful sand M
h it Well to Devote Oneself to Business to the Exclusion
of Recreation? Does Not the Mind Bequire Food Even as
the Body! Will Not "Specializing" Lead to Narrowness!
ristus lis
R
JOt.NfJ down town last Thursday
evening on the bark platform
of one lit the new "No-pny-nn-i
ide" fart, which require "cah
In advance," and which are the
Jy nnd delight of the Farnam
street car users, the mimical editor of The
Moo found himself in the company of a.n
Interesting group of business men who
preferred the Joys of the brink. fresh air,
to the comfortable seats Ineltle: to one of
t!iKo men, the youngest In the group, the
writer said: "Are you still working day
and night, and all the time, as you were
lifl year?" He replied he was working
pr"tty hard. "Why don't you let up a bit,
and not try to do no much?" waa asked.
The answer came "After next year I'm
goins to tak easier." To which the
v. t iter replied: "That' hat Mr. Harrl
mun said."
Il 'ieiipon, one of the older business men
laconically suggested: "Well, he did, all
light." Comment then ran along on the
l. aili of Mr. Harrlman; and another of the
htisinrsH men suld "Ves. and that's what
Mr. said." inentlonlnK a very prom-
liu.it Omaha man who died during the
p:(t year.
Now this younger bi.iinesa man used to
be very, much Interested In musical doings,
and Is the possessor of mu.ikal talent. But
Ilia business baa crowded the other out.
The same evening, a few of us were dis
missing vacation trips, and the wife of
th- in iiiu;.,v . of .. great corporation, made
I he i cm. lit. Knit she knew that had she
i. "I ,ii.si,id on her husband taking a trip
ii Liiup- with her. Borne time ago, he ! not in sanitarium nor In asyluma. They
wcii.d liuve been In a sanitarium, with I have retained Just enough of the shadow
nek . piostralion. 0f intellect to be able to remain outside. ,
About 'thanksgiving time the writer waa When a man Is absent-minded, he has
talking to another bualnesa man whose 'lost a certain part of his mind, for the
lively on one thing, lie is liable to become
fanatical on that subject. Our asylums
and our sanitariums are full of people who
have thought too much and too long and i
too earnestly on one thing.
It is all right to "do" one thing: that Is j
specializing, Rut to think about one thing
all the time, that is different. Do you
know many medical specialists who make
a practice of night calls? Are their hours
not more or less limited? Do you not have
t J go to them, rather than have them come
to you?
Occasionally a specialist gels into the
habit of thinking all the time about his
speciality, and what Is the result? Well.
It Is possible to answer that question In a
very practical way. Last winter a physi
cian In Omaha who lectures to medical
students told aoine ot us who were dis
cussing matters of this sort, that there
were authenticated cases of men who were
great authorities on certain diseases, dying
of those same diseases themselves.
We must not think too long, and too
earnestly, and too intently on one thing.
We must have mind-food. If we have been
giving all our thought to our business, we
have made a mistake:, we must feed our
Intellects. If we'liave succeeded In a finan
cial way, and have not added some mental
riches. "What shall It profit a man?"
If we
If we
If we starve the flesh, we lose it.
starve the nerves, we lose them.
starve the mind, we lose It.
There are many men, business men. pro
fessional m; n. laboring men, who today
have lost their minds. And yet they are
OOTID
ejr9
art
11 ll--"7-
413-15-17 South Sixteenth Street
Our big more Is brimful of new, choke, ractirle CHRISTMAS tJIKTS, and a visit through It will K'fe you many suggestions for your holiday itirt IihsIhu.
We are showing hundreds of pretty and InentH-nslTe article, (hat will appeal to you good furniture stylish, well made, hut not necessarily expensive: fine Oriental and lktmeiitie
Hums Curtains and Draperies; llrioa-Hrar of every description, all at prices within tlte reach of everyone. The whole store bids you a cheery, merry welcome come tomorrow and
take advantage of the first choice when the assortment is complete and the stocks are at their best.
Visitors to Omaha and the Corn Show are cordially invited to insect this grand display of Holiday tilfts.
m w
in me Is at the hesd of a big concern, and
who has been Identified with Omaha's
commercial Intereats for many years, and
asking him why he never did anything In
a musical way, nor seemed to take Interest
In musical happenings any more, the an
swer waa that a grown family, and bust
ness cares took all of his time.
And so It goes. And each on- Is going
to t-ilte It easier "after next year," or some
thing like that.
And the thought comes to one, especially
at this seuson of the year, when one In
dulges in retrospection, and when one
thinks over the gains and losses (In busi
ness parlunce), "What shall It profit a
man""
This Is the time of year when a man
looks over hie stock, and tries to dear
things, so that he . will not have to carry
over any more than he can help: it Is the
time of year when he looks over his ac
counts, and tries to get all paid in, that he
can: so that he will not have to carry any
more than Is necessary Intd the new year.
This Is the pre-lnventory time, the winding
up of the old, preparatory to opening up
the new. And the busy man of affairs, as
he looks over the part months, and weeks
and days, la anxious to find out the an
awer to this question, "What shall it profit
a man?"
Now' there Is not a successful business
man to-day who has not proved, for him
self, the statement that "Man shall not
live by bread alone."
No one Is more disgusted than a busiiiasa
man, with a person who simply thlnka of
his stomach. How often you hear the re
mark In contemptuoua tones, "All he thlnka
of. is getting his three meals a day." But
man shall not !!" by bread alone. Ha
needs bread. He needs also other things.
'J he business man Is not satisfied with a
machine to work for him: he wants his
helpers, his clerks, his bookkeepers to be
intelligent: that means, thay must think!
What does It profit a man If ha works
without thinking?
Many a business n.an. and many a pro
fessional man, and many a musician can
cheerfully and honestly say: "Well, 1
think." And they do. But we all probably
think of one thing to the exclusion of all
others. We think of our bustneaa, we plan
for. our business, we put our mental efforts
Into the one thing we are working at, for
dally bread.
Hut man shall not live by bread alone.
llJ must have mind-food. When one gets
to thinking long and earnestly and exclu-
tlme: his mind Is "wandering." When a
man Is unreasonable, he has lust his rea
son, along some particular branch.
He may have made a great success in
a business way: he may have an automo
bile or two: he may have a fine home, and
he may have a large bank account; hut
If he Is "losing" Ills mind; If be Is not feed
ing his mental side; If he Is starving his
intellect; If he never looks Into his library
once a week; (to say nothing of once a
day,) If he is not getting some mental
stimulus and some mental food every day;
if he Is pounding along at the same thought
all the time, and making "his mind" at
tend to "his business," without ever mak
ing it "his business" to' attend to ' his
mind," then "What shall It profit a man
If he gain the whole world, and lose his
own mind?"
No one wants to lose his reason. No one
wants to lose his mind. No one wants to
lose his life.
And yet, right here in Omaha, men are
seeing other men do these very things,
and when the catastrophe happens, they
say "What did It profit him? What did
It profit him?"
And then they keep on In the same old
way, because they think that their cases
are different; and anyway, they are "go
ing to take It easier after next year."
But some one says "Oh yes. that's all
right. I believe that: but I am not so
foolish as that. I play bridge: I -play a
game of poker once in a while: I entertain
olid Brass Jardinieres, like Il
lustration, ranging In size from
ft to 10 Inches, SI 9ft
6 inch size ,,4W
mm
Work Tables, I5 to ..$10.00
Muffin Stands, $11 to . . 8.UO
Ladles' Desks. $80 to . . U.'jZZt
Music Cabinets, f..'i2 to . . 7.5
Magazine Racks, 9M.50 to 1.75
Shaving Stands, $20 to . . y.OO
Waste Baskets, $,'. to .(
Tabottrettes, $10 to .... .55
Pedestals, $20.78 to . . . 4.50
Cellarettes. $82. no to . . 10.00
Desk Chairs, $lfl.7! to . . 4.50
Rockers, $75 to 4.75
Sewing Rockers. $10 to 1.75
Parlor Stands. $20 to . . 2.50
Leather Table Covers
I0 to 3.75
Piano Benches. $2:1.50 to 5.50
Book Blocks, $10 to . . . 8.50
Book Holders, $7.75 to fj.00
Electric Lamps, $20 to 5.50
Mahogany Trays, $13.50
o $ 5.75
Clocks, $210 to
Easy Chairs, $50 to ...
Mirrors, $;H.S0 to ....
Brass, Jardinieres, $;1.70
to
Brass Candle Sticks
$3.75 to
Brass Smoker Pieces
$2.2 to
Youth Chairs, $4.BO to
High Chairs. $ to
Child's Rocker. $l.."0 to
Child's Chair, $1.50 to . .
Foot StoolH, $10 to
Morris Chairs, $35 to . .
Library Tables. $75 to . .
Bookcases, $17 to
0.00
11.00
0.50
1.20
.20
.40
2.K5
3.35
.H5
.75
1.25
10.50
ll.OO
10.25
Parlor Cabinets, $200 to 825.00
Drop Leaf Tables, $30 to 18.O0
Doll Go Carts, $2 to 1.00
Doll Perambula tors,
$0.50 to 3.C0
leather Portieres. $11.50
to
Screens. $18 to
Shirtwaist and Utility
boxes, $10 to
Pillow Tops, (craftsman)
Table Covers, $7 to ....
Sofa Pillows. $2.50 lo . .
Carpet Sweepers, $3.75 to
Hassocks, $2 to
Bath Rugs. $4 to
Craftsman Rugs, $fl.50 to
Axminster Rugs, $5 to . .
Wilton Rugs. $8.50 to . .
7.50
3.75 Solid Brass Tray, like illustration, site 14-
m inch 81.80
.75
8
.50
2.0O
.75
1.50
3.50
2.25
3.50
Golden Oak Qaartersawed Morris Chair,
like illustration, hand rubbed and pol
ished, with choice of velour or Chase
leather cushions. $10 50
Mahoganlsed Birch Booker, like
Illustration, with shaped arms
and seat, finely JiA
finished
Brass Candle stick, like
Illustration, JlS
from "5c to. . . "
Turkish Leather Booker, like illustra
tion, made of best quality hand-buf fed
leather, with genuine leather ttfci
fringe 0
Brass Eleotrio timp, with fancy shade,
for reading table. with two bulbs,
very handsome In design,
my friends at the theater, and I run my
own automobile. All these things take my
mind off my business. 1 get my rest and
recreation that way."
Go slow. Clo alow. Be careful. There Is
a difference between re-actlon and re-creation.
Re-action, is what you are getting.
There Is no mental food In a game of
bridge. There Is mental activity. If you
play a decent game. But not mental food.
Ah, but the theatre? Tes, there some one
else has prepared the mental food for you.
You enjoy what Is being presented, but
it la not feeding your Intellect.
What you "want" Is re-action. What you
"need" Is re-creation. 1
Tou want to absorb what other Intellects
and other minds have done for you.
What you need to do is to put your
thoughts on other things than your busi
ness; that Is true: but the theater, bridge
1
and the automobile will localize your
thought, just a:i the business does.
What you need to do Is to get your
thoughts "up." Get In touch with the men
who think in higher things. Open the glass
doors of your library, and bring out the
thoughts of the many wise men who are
there. Get away from the stock market
Into mythology. Read this week your
"Christmas Carol" Instead of ypur evening
chronicle of murders, suicide, bank robber
ies, criminal cases, divorces, and what not.
Take out your Balzac, or your Dickens, or
your Thoreau, or Stevenson, or Kipling,
and forget things of the work world.
For what doth It profit a man If he
gain the whole world and lose his own
mind?
Re-creation la what we need. Creating
anew. Impulses; creating anew, those forces
Some Thing's You Want to Know
The American Congress Speaker Cannon's Career
The central figure In every discussion of he was 4 years old his parents moved to
the American congress today Is the speaker Indiana, his father being opposed to slav
ery. At 14 years 01a, uannon went 10 worn
of the house of representatives, Joseph G.
Cannon. 'Tnele Joe" Is a character. He
Is as much of a character in American
politics as was trie rugged Andrew Jack
son, the terrible John Randolph of Roan-
tn a country store, and saved his money
for the purpose of studying law. WTien he
was 20 he went to Terre Haute to read law
In the office of John P. L'sher, who was
secretary of the Interior In the Lincoln
oka or tht Imperious Roscoe Conkling, and cabinet. Later he went to the Cincinnati
A D UP 3 MONTHS
L
WITH AN ULCER
On Ankle It Was Very Bad and
Only Got Wor$e Under Treat
ments Cuticura Soon Healed
It Babs Head Freed from Stub
born Scurf. by Cuticura Soap.
TWO ECONOMICAL CURES
BY CUTICURA REMEDIES
" My caaa vaa a very bad ulcer sore
on my ankle and I waa laid up thre
months wltn it. 1 was
reading an advertise
ment in the newspaper
oh day about the
Cuticura Remedies so
1 purchased a cake of
Cutioure 8oap and one
bo of Cuticura Oint
ment and a lsrre bot
tle of Cuticura Resolv
ent. After using one
cake of Cuticura HoaD
and one bos of Cuticura Ointment mjr
ulcer was healed, by washing twice a
day with the 8oap and using the other
remedies as directed. Before I used the
Cuticura Kemediee my sore was getting
worse all the time under other treat
ments. Furthermore we have a baby
boy here and we have found that Cuti
cura Soap has been a fine thing for him.
lie had scurf on hit head and we tried
every way to remove it but failed until
we ueed the Cuticura Boap which re
moved it almost at once. George M.
Hall. Bruahton. N. Y.. Ieo. 84, 1908."
ha shares with those three Interesting his
torical personages the distinction ot being
always positive, never negative. Uncle Joe
1 a republican, therefore he hates the
democratic party and all Its works. If he
likes a man he will go to any proper length
to show his affection. If he disapproves
law school, where he was graduated In 18f.
In the same year he removed to Illinois,
living for a few months at Shelbyvllle and
thou going to Tuscola. In 1861, he was
elected state's attorney and was con-
to congress In 1892. another democratic
year, and has beet coming back ever since.
No public man In the history of the coun
try has been subjected to a more severe
attack by the press than was "Uncle Joe"
Cannon In WM). He was even then "Uncle
Jon," and that wad twenty years ago.
In that familiar name one finds a kev
to his character and to his power. He Is
one of the plain people, a lovable old man,
whom his friends adore. Anybody would
call him "uncle." Now there Isn't a man
alive who would dare to address the sen
ator from Maine as "Uncle 'Gene." It
tinud In that office until 1&68. In 1872 he oe laniamouni 10 comempi 01 me
was elected to congress, where he has
of a man there Is no language too severe served ever since wun me exception or me
tn xnr.u hi. ruiin. rm nen 1 1 v thnsa two years of the fifty-second congress. In
persons who admire Mr. Cannon aocord
htm a whole-souled and unquestioning loy
alty which Is akin to Infatuation, and those
who do not admire him are apt to use the
entire supply of Invectives in expressing
their opinions.
It appears that there are fashions In Cati
nonlsm. The speaker can remember when
he was hailed all over the country as the
1878 he removed to his present home In
Danville and abandoned his law practice.
Of the men who served in the Forty-third
congress, the first of which Mr. Cannon
was a member, but four others remain In
publio life. William P. Frye waa then
the chief supporter of Speaker Blaine,
Eugene Hale was a republican house
leader, Julius Caesar Burrows was "the
Ideal leader of the western republicanism silver-tongued orator of the house," and
CURED FALLING HAIR
And Itching Scalp with Cuticura.
"Rome months ago 1 suffered with a
bad form of scalp disease. My hair
waa falling out and my head Itched. I
read about Cutioura and determined to
try it. I bought a rake of Cuticura
Boap and one bog of Cuticura Ointment
and used them. I continued using the
Cuticura Ointment on my head daily
and the result waa truly wonderful. I
still use it occasionally and 1 always have
Cutioura Boap oa hand, the cure is
complete. Mrs. Amy Oeiaaler, 2011
Koutb Seventh Bt., Omaha, heb Sept.
Ji and Oct. 8. 1908."
Cuitrurt Soap 1A. OKtrei OntMl ao.t
hn4 itiurutv Rnolvwi iftoc ). (or la uh kira ot
CkumMtf CMd Mi. It per iu at SO). Sole
Koui.ut u wen4 piwr trua e Cfecp
i Pro, . lit cMuiBfcu A . &. Ilia
Wr4-pf CuUW koh. lalf4 . fitlnc 6
sariMMe. wmmu ens m t n im aua
that was before some of the "fair-haired
boys of the uplift magaslnes" were born.
He also remembers when he was denounced
by a large section of the press and by ail
democrats as "dirty-mouthed Cannon."
llll later the whole country adopted him
as its "uncle.' and embarrassed him wyth,
gifts of homespun suits and yarn socks and
hand-knit "galluses." just to show that the
country saw in I tide Joe the Incarnation
of those homely virtues which all Ameri
cans affect to regard so highly. AnJ now
I'nclc Joe, being tint tame man and le
mt'inberiug all those things. Is bring abuej
by mutt demuciats and some republicans
becauRe he is a "ciar." and is alleged to
have decamped with the liberties of the
American people secreted In tli same vest
pocket where he carries, ready for instant
use. cigEis. Vermillion county, Illinois, the
republican house organlKullon and a ptr-
Stephen B. Elklns was In the house as a
delegate from the territory of New Mexico.
Now Frye and Hale represent Maine tn
the senate, Burrows Is a senator frqm
Michigan and , Elklns Is a senator from
West Virginia. There la not a man left
in the housf? wlio was there when "Uncle
Joe" first took his seat. The names Frye,
Hale, Elklns and Cannon prove the value,
In congress, of long service.
Mr. Cannon served his apprenticeship, as
all young congressmen have to do, but it
was not long before he was recognised by
the leaders as a man of parts. He speedily
climbed to a high position on the com
mittee on appropriations, of which he was
so long chairman and where he wmi well
merited reputation as a "watch-dog of the
treasury." He was a candidate for speaker
in against Thomas B. Heed and Wlll-
fectly warm estimate of the usefulness to lttm McKinley. and again In 1K99 against
society of Mestrs. Bryan. Gompsrs and Ia
Follette.
lavld B. Henderson. In 1103 his ambition
was realized and he took the chair to pre-
There are many men. no doubt, who are "'do over the house where he had so long
able to give a perfectly Impartial estimate served.
of Mr. Cannon's ability and statmnianshlp,
but there is none who will do it. Either
Mr. Cannon Is the good old Uncle Jos who
Is standing bravely at the head of the con
servative forces fighting hryanism, social
Ism and the devil, or lie Is an antluaied
tory striving to obstruct every movement
in the Interest of public progrtss and mod
ern economics. Of course he Is neither
one nor the other he is not the only hope
of the conservatism nor the only enumy of
progress, for sometimes lie Is progressive
and sometimes he opposes the conserva
tives. One thing, however, is certain. He
la always a republican.
Mr. Caution will be 74 years old when he
celebrates tils next birthday. May I. He
was UK when he was first elected speaker,
the oldest man ever called to the chair of
the house. Yet he Is as vigorous today in
mind and Body as are most men of 60, and
N la young In congreea, He does not sp
in the stormy days of the Ftfty-first con
gress, when Speaker Reed was revolution
izing the character of the house, Mr. Can
non waa the chief fioor leader and whl?
of the party In the consideration of every
queMlon but the tariff, where Mr. McKin
ley led. In one of the hot debates on the
question of the power of the speaker to
count a quorum and compel the attendance
of members, Mr. Cannon replied lo a re
mark ot Mr. McAdoo of New Jersey In
language described at the time as un
printable. The Incident was the cause of
a bitter personal quarrel between Cannon
and "Billy" Maaon of Chicago that day,
and led to attacks upon Cannon In all the
oppoaitlou press of the country, notably
the New York Hun. Cannon wae renomi
nated for congress the very next day after
the Incident occurred, and the matter was
made an Isaui in his district. He waa dt-
tested that year, ltwQ, as were moat of the
pear to feel the handicap of his years In republican leaders and all but eighty-eight
any fashion, and he Is ready at any time
to prove to the "Insurgents" that he Is
capable of putting up a very high grade
of fight.
Me wae born in Qullford county, North
Carolina, In 188, of Quaker parents. When
or the republican representatives In the
house. Whether he owed his defeat to the
campaign waged upon that incident, or
whether it waa the result of the general
democratic landslide. Is a controverted
question. At gay tale, a was rtturned
supreme court, treason and all high crimes
and misdemeanors. Mr. Hale is in the
senate what Mr. Cannon Is in the house,
the chief conservator of the traditions of
the party. Yet their methods are as dif
ferent as are the two houses, or the two
men.
Mr. Cannon never encouraged the sen
atorial ambition. He never looked upon a
transfer from the house to the senate as a
promotion. Perhaps one of the most re
markable features of his long service Is that
he always has been Jealous of the rights
of the house as opposed to the encroach
ments of the senate. It is true that Mr.
Cannon's conception of the scope of the
"rights ot the house" differs radically from
that entertained by many persons, but It
is nonetheless true that the speaker of the
house guards faithfully what he deems his
soeclal trut.
Mr. Cannon Is a product of the golden
age of the republican party, one of the half
dozen men still In public life who entered
politics as support' th uf Lincoln In his
first campaign. But the attitude of the
Cannon mind Is not so much that of the
Lincoln era as of that epoch of fierce
party strife which begun with the end of
reconstruction and ended only with the
eclipse of the democratic party during the
last Cleveland administration. In those
days It meant something to be a party
man, and It was disgraceful to be a turn
coat. It was the days of straight tickets,
no scratching and absolute boss rule. The
"Indeptndent voter" had not appealed to
disturb politicians and the "uplift" and
Its scheme and plans was unheard of.
Mr. Cannon Is true to the tradlt.ons of
his party and he has little patienre with
new-fangled notions, unless they will serve
to advance party interests. Then he is as
nady to take up a new idea as anybody
could be.
The one thing he does know how to do
Is to fight. He knows how to deal heavy
blows, he knows how to take them. In
lMil Mr. Theodore Kuoscvelt said: "We
cannot escape from the fact that it was no
credit to the republican party, uf the house
that Mr. Cannon of Illinois should be one
of Its leaders" Yet It was not long until
Mr. Cannon returned to the leadership as
a victor. One of the leaders of the house,
Henry Sherman Boutell, has sa'd of the
speaker: "He has r.o cant or hypocrisy.
He never poses. He never flatters. If?
never deceives." And even his bitterest
enemies roust admit that there Is never
any difficulty in finding out Just where
"Cnele Joe" stands. He is again the cen
ter of a political fight and the oountry
may be sure that be will not run away
from It.
niBtaio j. KAiKur.
Tomorrow TK1 AJraaUOaJT C0
OaVBSsV Tke Leasers f ike eaet.
which we are drawing upon every day.
A man cannot keep on drawing on his
bank account, unless he keeps on deposit
ing. A man cannot keep on drawing on his
health account, unless he keeps on deposit
ing health forces: a man cannot keep on
drawing on his nerVe account, unless he
Kteps on depositing nerve rorces: a man
cannot keep on drawing on his mental ac
count, unless he keeps on depositing new
mind-food, thought-supply.
The banker Is not satisfied with tha
statement that you will deposit "after next
year. He says, "Do it Now"! And he em
phasises the "Now"!
But, you say, that Is a musician's non
sense. Banks do lots of business on credit:
they deal in futurities. Do they?
Well now listen to a musician's common
serse. They do not. There is not a bank
In Omaha doing business on credit! You
may borrow, but you "pay," the moment
you "borrow." You pay what they call
"collateral." And you say, Wrong again, I
don't put up any collateral. Then, if that
Is so, you put up Yourself! You put up
your Integrity. You put up your Moral
Worth, and that, be assured, is nicely
calculated at the bank: through dealings
with the bank, cr with parties known by
the bank, you have established a moral
worth and standing, which you label
"Credit" and on that you borrow. It la a
current saying among shrewd men, "If you
went to keep a good credit, don't use It."
An utter stranger cannot borrow!
In conclusion. "Thanksgiving" ' has Just
passed. We have all had much to be thank
ful for. That we live in Omaha Instead of
Nicaragua Is one thing. That we are not
destitute Is another thing. That we are
not -dumb, deaf, blind, and crippled Is an
other thing.
That we are rich does not count for so
much. That means, we can have all the
bread we want. But man shall not live by
bread alone.
That we have learning Is not enough.
That means, we know more than people
who are Ignorant. But man shall not live
by mind alone. ,
Have we our own souls? That Is "The'1
point.
Do our lives demand Beauty? Or are we
content to be without It?
Do we love Good Music?? Or are we
content to be without it?
Do ive love Flowers? Or are we satis
fied without them?
Do we love Poetry?? Or are we content
to be without It?
Do we love our families? Our friends,
cuUlde the circle of bulness gssoolates?
Do we love our workmen, our servants, our
fellow men, our so-called enemies? Out
sense of liight? Our Ideals? God?
If we have lost the faculty of, the need
of, the demand for Beauty, Nature. Oood
Music, Flowers, Poetry, Family, Fellow
men, we are losing our souls.
We do not have to wait for another
world, In which to "lose" our souls.
If we don't lose them here, we don't lose
them anywhere.
If We don't find them here, we don I
find them anywhere. (Perhaps!!
A merciful Providence may have a pun
whereby we may find them again In souk
otler sphere. But If It Is hard to reflnd
thm here, it may be very much liardir
to find them somewhere elae!!
So, What shall It profit a man. If he
gain the whole world, and lose his own
Soul? ,
The Soul of Music is calling to our
Bouls today. It begins its song with the
woids, "What shall It profit a man?"
And word to the musical people. Don't
let us forget that we also can lose our
souls, right here and now, by refusing to
obey the soul's dictatea.
As musicians, we are probably out
tempted by tho demon 6t avarice. But
we may be. We may be. The pure whlw
flag of musical purity. Art, has been
dragged In the dust many times and oft.
Let us be careful.
But there are other demons, Expediency,
for example. We are so apt to ask our
selves, "Is It expedient?" wnen we sh?uld
simply ask. "Is It right?"
Another soul-loser is the catering lo
popular taste, or catering to some on.''?,
purse or social standing, regardless of
truth. Musicians should not cater. That
belongs to the supper room, not to
superiority.
Musicians must be superior, not supper
servers; creators, not caterers.
Popularity, even with those who do
I not know, Is unother siren which beckons
musicians. When this Is sought, the soul
becomes spprehenslve and prepares for
flight.
What has been said is no reflection
against either social standing or the purse.
Social standing, and purses, have ever
been Just as- accessible to the good and
true, as to the meretricious and the un
true. Witness our churches and our hospi
tals, and the many musical organisations
and Institutions supported In other coun
tries! Purses are philanthropic, and social
standing is susceptible, to the good, as well
as to the uugood.
What shall It profit a muilcian If he (ot
she) gain the whole world with Its prestige,
and its Influence, and Its acknowledgement,
If the soul be lost? It us remember also,
that the soul Is never lost by one supreme
plunge: it is never lost by one direct ant:
it Is never lost by the death of a body.
It is lost. Just like a bank account, by
a "aeries" of withdrawals, or losings,
without any compensatory supplying.
A man may lose a fortune In a day. But
does he find It again In a day?
A man may lose his health In a year.
But does he find it again , in a year?
A man may lose his mind In a decade.
But when does he find It again?
A man may lose his soul in a lifetime.
But will he find it again?
And all this meditation has come from a
thought suggested on the back platform
of a street car: "I am going to take It
nA4l.- aflpl' iw.vt t'ADr "
What shall It profit a man, If?
THOMAS J. KELLY.
Musical Note.
Miss Hopper announces she is prepared
to reserve and de!)ver tickets for the Bchu-rr.ann-J-ielnk
concert (January 8, MO), and
suggeHts the fitness ot these tickets for
Christmas gifts, either In the family circle
or among friends. This item is welcome,
for It Is certain no musical event of the
season is more Impatiently awaited. An
excellent program opens with the "Vltella
Aria," from tho opera "Titus," and includes
three additional arias as well as a group
of German songs representing Schumann,
Schubert. Brahms, Strauss, Walugartner
and Wolf. The closing groupe comprises
five English songs which cannot fall to
reach every heart. Mrs. Ksiherlne Hoff
man will preside at the piano. Mme. Schu-mann-Heink
recently sang to an audience
of 4.000 at Kansas City: in fact, this great
artist haa a reputation for capacity houses
and no effort will be spared to make her
coming known to every music-lover of
Omaha. The eastern press declares: "This
world-renowned singer has never brought
her art to a more exquisite approximation
of perfection than this season."
Mr. August Mothe-Borglum will- present
Miss Marie Meek in a piano recital, as
sisted by Miss Laura Ooetz, soprano (pupil
of Miss Anna Bishop); Madame Borglum,
accompanist, et the First Baptist church,
Thursday evening, December 18. The pro
gram follows:
1. Toccata. Opus 4H. No. 6 Leschetlsky
Theme Varle, Opus 16, No. i
Paderewskt
2. Ea hut die Rose Frans
Serenade Massenet
What ts Ive Qans
3. Aufschwung .' Schumann
Warum Schumann
Etude, Opus 10, No. 7 Chopin
Nocturne, Opus 15, No. 2 Chopin
Walts. Opus 70, No. 1 Chopin
4. L'Alouetle Balaklrew
Barcarolle. Opus DO Rubinstein
Scherio, Opus 16. No. t Mendelssohn
Concert Etude, Opus 1, No. 8 Poldlnl
5. Nymphs and Fauns Bembeig
. Waltz Blue Danube
Strauss-Schuls-Bivlar
At their recital In the First Congrega
tional church Sunday. December If, p. m ,
Martin W. Bush will play: "Suite Ooth
Iquo" (complete), L. Boellmann; "Pas
torale." Franck; "Canon In B Minor."
Schumann; "Procession du St. Saorement"
Chauvet: "Canzone della Sera," d'Evry;
"Andante," Conatablle-Dethler; "Sere
nade," Miller: "Autumn Sketch," Brewer;
"March for Church Festival," Best. Mr.
Ellis will sing the "Fifth Psalm." Rebllng,
and three Christmas songs by Cornelius.
RALPH CONNOR'S
The Foreigner
1
srBayTsi -wranrsBsjsjsjs
Ju
A TALE OF SASKATCHEWAN
In "THE FOREIGNER," continuing in his
chosen field of the Great Northwest and
following in sequence of time and event his
earlier books, THE SKY PILOT," "THE
MAN FROM GLENGARRY," "THE DOC
TOR," etc., Ralph Connor arrives at the
height of Lis power as a novelist.
Breathing the glorious air of the mountain
and the prairie and filled with earnest, red
blooded men and women builders of a
nation "THE FOREIGNER" is a book to
stir the blood, to arouse patriotism and to
kindle sympathy.
Price $1.08.
BENNETT'S