Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-04-26
MISCELLANY.
Action and Reaction.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

uieHce OF disregard tneret0. ignorance
of this law exempts no one from punish
ment; and yet at least four-fifi tbs of the
human race appear to be utterly uncon-
scious of its existence. The law is that
of action and reaction. which NAV thus be
stated, In order to make it clearly com
prehensible.
Every act of a mans life, whether
good or evil, has rea ction of consequent
ces. Whatever we do, affects Others or
ourselves in some way; for there cannot
he an act without an effect proporlionate
to The action.
This. upon little reflection, will ap-
pea- self-evident.
This importance of life in obedience
10 this law must strike every one at "A
glance, for happiness or misery here aud
hereafter depends upon il. In great
things, so to speak. all see and acknowl
edge the existence of the law we have
stated, for examples of its unerring vis-
itation are of daily occurrence. How
sad and various are The punishments that
men receive for evil actions! But in lit.
tie things as they are called, where no
viOlitions of penal statutes or public opn-
ion take place, and where no reaction is
apparent, we imagine that none will ev-
er come; that what they have done is
lost as in void immense. But this is
fatal error. There is not an act of
mans life, little or great, good or bad,
that does not, sooner or later in life, re-
act upon him with its full quota OF con-
sequences. A philosophers has said, that
The stamp of mans foot upon the earth
will shake the universe. The remark Is
more likely To he true than false. We
can believe il more easily than we can
disbieve il. And a single word, Look,
or sm a&lest act of a mans ife, forgotten
by him in the next moment, may shake
his soul to the very centre.
Alonzo Turnham had never heard of
the existence of the law TO which we
have alluded. But that was of little con-
sequence. He would not have credited
the (act if he had heard it stated. The
law which he laid down for his govern
ment, was TO seek his own qualification
in all possible ways that it could be done,
without so far tresspassing upon the rights
of Others as to give them the power OF
retaliation. At The age of tweniy-one,
he started in life with the determination
to succeed in the world. He saw that
wealth gave The means of self-gratitica-
tinn 10 almost any extent, and he resolved
upon its attainment. lie had been for
two years engaged in the study OF law;
but the law he perceived 10 be po slow
means of attaining the object of his
wishes, of ample fortune, and he there
fore began TO look around him for some
quicker mode of advancement. He pos
sessed some literary ability, aud had III
dulged an early passion for literary pur-
suits by writing for the columns OF a
weekly paper. This made him, 10 some ex
tent, acquainted with individuals coanec-
ted with the press. Converslng one day,
with the owner of popular periodical,
the latter enumerated many Instances OF
persons who had become wealthy in the
publishing business. Turnham caught
at this, and pondered il in his mind. He
had few thousand dollars, with which,
after mature dellberation, he determined
to purchase half interest in newly
started weekly newspaper, The proprietor
Of which found himself in difficulties,
anl compelled to take partner.
Upon this new pursuit in life, Turnham
entered with great spirit. There was a
newspaper in the city of the same class.
Ii had been in existence Tor some years,
and was firmly established. Before
coming into the business himself, MIR.
Turnham had been regular subscriber
for this paper, and written for its columns.
He had always liked it, and considered
| il a very excellent publication. But now
| it wore an indifferent aspect in his eyes,
and he never took II up without "a dispar-
aging remark.
| slsn't tastonishing. he said TO his part
ner in the business, one day, that a pa
per like this should have such circula-
lion! 1t ism, comparable with ours
TO this the partner readily assented.
| Turnham commenced reading the
number Of The paper which he had just
commented. @
| Just listen to this! he said suddenly;
-and he read few paragraphs. Then
he added what do you think of thar
| Il shouldn'l like to see that IN our pa
per- The partner answered.
| No; it's enough TO kill any concern.
I'm sure thai no parent, who sees il and
reflects upon il. will allow another num-
ber OF the paper to come into This house.
Very certain am |. that would order a
discontinuance inslanter.'
$50 would l. returned the agreeing
partner.
After sitting silent; with his eyes upon
the floor tor some time, Turnham said,
speaking slowly
III would be a capital move for us just
now, to take This matter up, and remark
with some severity upon it,
And get storm about our ears for
our pains
/ 'fhere is nothing that l would like
better. 1t would oe the very thing for
Us. We circulate six or seven thousand.
and they twenty thousand. The contro-
/ versy would make MS known In nll their