The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-31

'TAEE THE WORLD AS Y OF F1sD 1r.''-Don' t
you do any such thing. Ifyou DO, you are sure
10 be dissatisfied with it. Besides, there was
no sort of use for you to come into it, if you are
to be governed by such principle as that As
soon as you begin to find out however, that the
machinery Of the world is not entirely perfect,
and attempt to stir about in it for the purpose
of improving it, there are plenty who will sneer
at you for your pains, and coolIy tell you that
you had better ''take the world as you find it. -
The adage has no practical application what
ever. Where instinct only animates matter it
rules per force The birds in Eden built their
nests after the same fashion, and of the same
material, doubtless-subject only to the law Of
demand and supply-that they do know. Your
mole has worked his way in the earth with the
same implements throughout all time. The
beaver has built his dam and city according to
the same architectural theory he was taught at
the beginning And so throughout all the If
rational creation. They take the world as they
find it, and are satisfied with it: Instinct has
taught them the highest instinct of their tribe,
and infhem we see condition of animate ma
ture, which may with considerable proprety, be
styled perfect. 1t may be a little humiliatihg
be aperfect beaver, perfect horse, perfect
hippopotamus, aye, even perfect monkey, but
notla perfect man. Imperfect himself, he sees
imperfection all around him; and throughout all
nature, outside of the realm of instinct, and
within the whole range Of mind and matter he
feels the impulses of progress. He is urged to
press onward to higher and better condition
Of moral and physical lfe and so long as be is
true to these impulses it is in vain to tell him
to ''take the world as he finds it,
The great author of our common faith came
unostentatouslv into the world, not to take it
as he found it, but to declare new theory of
spiritual truth, and system of practice which
was designed to establish the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man. And those who
would have had him take the world as he found
it, whether it was to identify himself with their
preiudices, or to establish splendid dynasty,
of which he was to be the nvincble head, in
conformity with their ideas of national great
ness, were equally disappointed. He wentabout
teaching new doctrine which was detestable
to the world as he found it. He set up an ex-
ample which was constant reproach to the
selfish pride and fanajieal zeal of his own people.
And in the end they executed him. And his
lOllOWtla III pul sunny hlo tAdlll PIC anu obey
his niunctions, were charged as disturbers of
the peace; they were said to turn the world up
side down, instead of taking it as they found
it, and like their master, they were sacrificed
to The outraged feelings of the excellent people
who would not have the world disturbed.
In dim and obscure apartment of Stras-
burg, only little more than four hundred years
ago, John Gutenberg was poring over some
uncouth blocks with carved surfaces: These
he rudely fitted together, and putting them in
frame, syd under straight screwshe pro-
duced an impression upon sheet of paper, and
the art of printing was introduced to mankind
John Gutenberg was not disposed to take the
world as he found it, On the contrary, he
took it to make something better of it. He saw
where it could be materially improved, and with
but a very limited idea Of the wonderful conse-
quences that were to flow from his "little i'm.
provement," he gave to his fellow man an in.
stituton more powerful than the sword of the
warrior, the crozier Of the priest, or the sceptre
of king. 1t has already done more towards
the civiisation of mankind than any other hui
man discovery upon the face of the earth. Ii
is anticipating the intercourse of nations, and
thus abaliny the teuds of mankind, and gradual
j is diffusing the truths of christianity over the
face of the earth, and thus aiding the honest
zeal and thwarting the craft of priesthood Il
is declaring to the nations Of the earth the great
principle of civil, religious and political liberty
and thus shaking and gradually undermining
the thrones of kings. So, instead Of taking the
world as he found it, Gutenberg submitted il
to a process of successful experiment which is
thoroughly revoluionising it.
In the same way has religious, moral and
physical improvement been urged forward by
those who were determined not to take the world
as they found it, through all time; and so it must
be ln',he future The gospel first preached al
Jerusalem, and but narrow y construed and I'M
derstood, has gone on through the might o
mind to the development of The grand theory
of religious liberty, which we now profess to en-
| joy. The republican theories of Greece and
Rome, though falling under the imperfection>
of the systems with which they were identified
and the burthen Of popular ignorance, furnish
| the vital principle of that nationality which il is
ours to vndicate and maintain at this day
The men of the revolution would not consent tc
take the world they found it. And so in
physics. Franklin caught the electric spark
from the lightning, and Illuminated a fact which
nature only half concealed. A Morse succeed
ed him, applied the subtle fluid to the contin-
uous wire, and will presently have the whole
cvillsed world in network of instantaneous
intercommunication.
The same great principle applies to all of us
The young man setting out in life, whatever
career he proposes to himself. should resolve
that if skill genius or application can do it, he
will improve the world within his sphere OF
action. If he is literally to take it as he finds
it," it should be with a determined purpose in
reserve to leave it better for having lived in it
~~0~~>~~~-~~-~~~-~U0~
FACTS FOR THE CURIoUs.-Thomas Jeffer-
son and John Adams both died on the 4th OF
July, 1926 John Adams died in bis 8 lst ye;tr
and was eight years older than Thomas Jeffer-
son; Thomas Jefferson was eight years Older
than James. Madison; James Madison was eight
years older than James Monroe; and James
Monroe eight years older than John Quincy
Adams. The first FIVE of our presidents-al
revolutionary mcn-ended their service in the
66th year of their age. Washington born Feb
ruarv 22d, 1889; inaugurated 1899; term Of
service eynjred in the 66th wear of his aOa-