The Joyfulness of Folly.

Manawatu Herald, 29 November 1904, Page 3

The Joyfulness of Folly.

What a pleasant thing is folly ! Only those who know very little, or (better still) nothing at all, appear entirely happy. For whereas a fool sincerely believes that he knows everything, a wise man is by constant proofs reminded that he knows very little. But stay! There is something wrong here. This philosophy won’t do. Is ignorance, after all, really happiness? True, a very old proverb assures us that “ ’tis folly to be wise,” but, like most proverbs, we suspect that this one must not be taken too literally. A certain miser when voung buried a hoard of gold in a secret place, intending to dig it up for use when he grew old; but his miserly spirit prevented him from ever believing that he was sufficiently old to need it, though he lived to a great age. As a matter of tact, the miser was observed burying his gold by a man who dug it up and made off with it the very next day ; but the miser never knew this. Here now, was a case ot ignorance being bliss. But for every once that “ ignorance is bliss ” it spells ruinous disaster a thousand times. In piping times of peace and prosperity the foolish jog along joyfully; but warfare, whether military or commercial, sorts into two camps the foolish and the wise. Sickness does the same thing with even greater exactitude. Most ol us have been sick in the course of our lives, and all of us must be. But, unfortunately, not all of us know—as Mr James Baker, of 15, Robsart Street, Parkside, Adelaide, S.A. “ For a number of years,” writes Mr Baker, “ I suffered terribly from indigestion. All the symptoms were present —tightness and oppression about the chest, particularly after eating, and pains between the shoulders. My whole system seemed out of gear, and I became excessively nervous and run down. At the period to which I allude, I was working at Booleroo in this State, and my trade (that of coachbnilder and wheelwright) being vpry brisk, I was earning a fair amount of money. But nearly all went for doctors and medicines. Bad as this was, I would not have complained if I had obtained any relief in exchange for it. But it was not so. On the contrary, I went from bad to worse, until I was in an almost helpless state of health. Not until then did it occur to me to try Mother Seigel’s Syrup, a medicine from which my wife had derived much benefit some years before. Having obtained a bottle from our storekeeper, I began to take it, and my condition at once

improved. Encouraged by this, I continued to use the Syrup until, after consuming a few bottles, my health was Completely restored. Now lam never trobbled by indigestion, nervousness, or any other firm of illness ; but I am careful to have a bottle of Mother Seigel’s Syrup always at hand, and to take a dose occasionally. Unquestionably it is the most valuable medicine known.”—(Signed) John Baker, Feb.uary 19th, 1904. No i the joy that folly can bestow will not bear examination. If that were not so, happiness would be almost universal,