Bohemian Society | Page 8

so clearly distinguish the
melancholy vibration of a single string touched by the finger--a
mournful sobbing sound. Ah this is indeed human life! where in the
rushing noisy crowd, and sounds of gladness, and a thousand mingling
emotions, distinctly audible to the ear of thought, are the pulsations of
some melancholy string of the heart, touched by an invisible hand."
An Optimist, a pleasant, sweet faced woman, with a voice like the
chime of silver bells, is saying:

"It is only to morbid and diseased minds that existence looks colorless.
People who live too much within themselves, whose imagination
becomes disordered see only the dark side of life. It was not intended
that life should be all sunshine and no shadow."
"For life is one, and in its warp and woof, There runs a thread of gold
that glitters fair, And sometimes in the pattern shows most sweet
Where there are sombre colors."
Dark clouds must appear in the life of each, and one of the great lessons
of life is to learn to bear disappointments philosophically, not sit down
with folded hands and watch the clouds approaching until our vision
becomes obscured. There is sunshine in the lives of each and every one
if they will but see it, and banish vain regrets and useless repinings.
Inertia causes a vast deal of trouble.
"Lose this day loitering, t'will be the same story To morrow, and the
rest more dilatory The indecision brings its own delays. Are you in
earnest? Seize this very minute! What you can do or think you can,
begin it! Only engage, and then the mind grows heated. Begin it, and
the work will be completed."
Fortunately the day of fine ladyism has passed and there are noble
women who are not afraid nor ashamed to take upon themselves the
duties and responsibilities of life, women who do their work well and
faithfully, duties that perhaps in themselves are not noble, but by the
manner in which they are done the work in itself is elevated. The
common laborer who does his work well and to the best of his ability is
more to be commended than the President who puts but half his energy
in his duties.
What can be more pitiful than the apathy and utter uselessness of the
would-be fine lady who is ennuied to the last degree; one perhaps with
good ability who is conscious of the fact that she is capable of
something better, would like to turn her attention to something useful,
but is restrained from doing so by the fear of what "society" will say.
Any society which is worth knowing will extend the right hand of
fellowship to the self-reliant noble woman, much more readily than to

the useless nonentity. Life to be pleasant must have an aim, an object,
and every one has been given some talent to make use of and for such
he or she must answer at "the last great day."
Life can not but be pleasant to those who make nature a study. There is
a vast book open before us and every one who chooses can open a page.
The study will never grow monotonous, for nature is constantly
changing and with lavish hand showers upon her children from her
great store house innumerable blessings, to those who "see books in
running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything."
From the fern by the way side to the study of psychology--the most
fascinating of all studies--there is something in which all can interest
themselves, but more especially for women, for to me this seems
woman's kingdom. With much quicker perceptive faculties than men,
they are better able to see the finer more delicate portion of nature's
handiwork and mysteries. Unfortunately in small towns if a woman
tries to investigate spiritualism, she is immediately called a spiritualist.
If she takes an interest in mesmerism and psychology, she is called
visionary. If she takes an interest in the religious discussion of the day,
she is called an atheist. If she takes an interest in pathology she is
called strong minded, and who does not abhor the so-called strong
minded woman. A woman may be essentially womanly and take an
interest in all these things. Brain was given to woman for reason and
investigation, and "I rather choose to endure the wounds of those darts
which envy casteth at novelty, than to go on safely and sleepily in the
easy ways of ancient mistakings." Life cannot but be pleasant to those
who are fond of books, "our silent companions." They speak a language
all their own and we can find companionship for every mood, grave,
gay, dreamy, discursive, philosophical and scientific.
If you are a busy worker in a large city and wish a breath of