Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-06
THE
MONDAY MORNING. JUNE 6. 1899.

INDUSTRY AM ENERGY of CHARACTER.
A H,prr read ictore tie M"dtHeb,rp Ly-
ceHm, BY G. 5. TAYLOR.
How wisely. beautifully. and fifty have all
things been arranged by our Creator Tor the
happiness, comfort. and convenience OF man
since the fall. Banished from the Garden OF
Eden-the scene of all his happiness and
tGss-for his disobedienca, he is doomed to
earn his living 'by the sweat of his brow"
The very curse thai is pronounced against
him. the penalty imposed upon him, is a bles-
.inc in his fallen condition. The necessity
which compels him to cultivate the fruits OF
the earth for the sustenance OF his body, IL
one of the principal sources from which he
derives his happiness. That his mind might
be properly exercised, and developed to a
certain extent, it is made to contribute to the
wants Of his body; whatever those wants
NAV be, whatever is necessary to his conve-
nience and comfort must be obtained by the
exercise of his mind. But it seems 10 have
been the design of the Creator that this gift
T. man. this reflected image of himself,
should not be confined merely to the relief OF
his TEMPORAL wants. A continual longing
after something unobtained-an expansive
ness-a thirst for knowledge. has also been
impaired TO him. There is, perhaps, one de
sire more common than any other to every
human heart, from the howell to the palace,
from the dungeon to the throne, and that Is
ylogress-the aspiration to be something bet
Ter than we are. There is one idea with
which that Of life is inseparably connected
it is the idea Of growth. ITO grow is to
live. to decline is to die" And to meet this
desire, God has ~abundantly provided III
creation, so that in whatever direction the
eve of man is turned, wherever his molina
ton leads him. whatever be his occupation
or position in life, there is that to crafty
this desire, that upon which his mind may
De exercised, strengthened, developed, and
made to contribute to his happiness and
usefulness. Look at the incentives TO indus
try. The wide extended field of creation is
spread out before us. Standing as we do up
on the outskirts, we know comparatively lit
tie of what it contains. We are command
ed to enter, to make our way by our own
exertions, to act our part in the great battle
of life. Here are fields of battle not strewn
with dead mems bones, or believed with the
tears of human suf%ering-here are oppor'
~tunities Of achievement. which we may use
without depending upon armies for assis-
lance, or upon our fellow mel for a place to
be assigned us in order to engage in the
struggle; here are triumphs which we may
lead up, undisturbed by the moan Ct the cap
tive, or the wall of human victims, as they
walk chained behind the wheel, We repeat
it, we are commanded to enter. We view II
as a command, else why should we he en-
dowed with a talent to be cultivated and i'm
proved, and why should the material upon
which this talent is to be exercised be pla-
ced at our disposal, if it Is not a command:
Thus we see the foundation is laid by ma
ture. upon this we are to build: ample mate
rial is at our service, the design and execu-
lion left to ourselves. The question is, will
we give this building our personal attention;
stall all the powers of the mind and ener-
gies of our nature be brought into exercise
TO shape, mould, and construct a building of
such dimensions and capacity that our fel-
low creatures may find rest and enjoy repose
within its ample and well stored chambers;
shall every part be 80 arranged and ttly
Joined together as to call forth the admlra-
zion, and command the respect Of mankind?
or shall we leave it to grow up OF itself; its
rude and miserably constructed walls, an
eye sore to the passer by, the dwelling OF
Ignorance and misery, corrupting and con
Eliminating all within its reach, poisoning
the pure air of Heaven. as it forces its way
through the growth of ignorance and super
%stition, by which it is surrounded and almost
obscured, The matter is in our own hands,
and every mai is the a~rtiicer of his own
destiny. That one should erect a more state
- tl.n ,,,,tl,ar InaS
not argue that the cottage may not be beau
tilted and adorned, and present the same ele-
eance and convenience as the palace, though
ON a smaller scale.
Let a man form habits of industry in his
youth, let him accustom himself TO discharge
his duties with a will, and with his might,
and it will become a fixed habit that will
follow him through life; every transporting
event and occurrence that presents itself
will be laid hold of, and made to serve his
ends and accomplish his purposes.
Many a man in the face of opposition, with
difficulties staring him in the face, by the
pewer and force Of his will, and his own ex-
%artions, has raised himself from poverty and
obscurity to eminence and distinction-writ
ten his name high upon the temple of fame.
What has been done may be done again
Lives Of great men remind ~
We can make our lives sublime.
And departing leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time
The disposition for improvement Is nm
nitely more important than the means: the
will must and will make a way for itself.
Let a man choose that pursuit which is best
suited to his circumstances and tastes, and
in this favored land of ours it is not a mat
ter of much consequence it is the man that
gives dignity to the occupation, and not the
occupation to the man. There are many roads
anv one of which will lead him on to fame
and fortune-Choose amongst them-but you
must grid up, and nerve yourself TOR the
contest, for il is not to be won without many
a hard blow; to the laggard or craven by no
chance can they fall.