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Hough, Emerson, 1857-1923

"The Way of a Man"

Parties were no doubt in search of us at that
time. But where should these search in that wilderness of the unknown
Plains. How should it be known that we were almost within touch of the
great highway of the West, now again thronging with wagon trains? By
force of these strange circumstances which I have related we were
utterly gone, blotted out; our old world no longer existed for us, nor
we for it.
As I argued to myself again and again, the laws and customs of that
forgotten world no longer belonged to us. We must build laws again, laws
for the good of the greatest number. I can promise, who have been in
place to know, that in one month's time civilization shall utterly fade
away from the human heart, that a new state of life shall within that
space enforce itself, so close lies the savage in us always to the skin.
This vast scheme of organized selfishness, which is called civilization,
shall within three weeks be forgot and found useless, be rescinded as a
contract between remaining units of society. This vast fabric of waste
and ruin known as wealth shall be swept away at a breath within one
month. Then shall endure only the great things of life. Above those
shall stand two things--a woman and a man.


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