Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-07-09
THE TWO ELEMENTS.

THERE are two elements existing in SO
ciety-the element OF sellshness-the ele
ment of benevolence. Most potent is the
influence they exert, and the doings OF men
in all the relations of life are acted upon by
the preponderance Of the one or the other
existing in their inner being. So far as the
intrinsic qualities Of these elements are con-
cerned, there is 10 similarity, nor is it easy
to blend them so as to have them work har-
monious, Il compound made up Of selfish
ness and benevolence is so uncertain-so
unreliable in its action that it is always un-
safe to trust it, for the reason that it is SO
eapricious-so full Of uncertainty that IN
the very hour when the most might be eX-
pectod from it, it would do the least or per-
haps do nothing, and disaster would follow,
and details of disasters of this sort are to be
found in the records of human society again
and again.
One blight implanted in the inner core OF
human nature by sin is preponderance OF
the selfish element, this has a most potent
ascel dancy, and in many instances-yery
many, bears entire sway 50 much arc some
humans under the dominion OF tins clement,
that no dea that has not embodied IN IT
something for oneself can fnd no place IN
their thinkings, and, hence, all their domgs
and meanings to do are within the radius
Of their own shadow, outside OF that they
are never found, and even their shadow IT
self is very contracted -shrunken by the
crisping force of the aayse!fasn working with
in them. 1t is not uncommon to ind peo-
nle who by spells are generous, sort OF
snoen, If benevolence, will for the moment
carry them beyond their haoltual cfcle' OF
their shadow for the time expands NUE.
and. for once, they do a generous decd"
something in which myself Is not lhcofpo-
rated and after it is done they contract mar
rover than before, and perhaps, nave Sc
ries Of self-gnawings for having once pro
truded beyond the shell OF Their sel.iSh
ernst Others there are, who are seilish
and generous by turns, very htlul-ve'y
uncertvin, nevertheless, it cannot oe saio =,
them. that they have no beneVolence' ana
it is not easy to Judge which OF the l"o eio-
ments preponderates, sometimes one' eoal,
times fhe other has the control, ahd' many
time, it happens that such peopie seein - -
have contradictions; when ana W,iclg ~
MIGHT be expected that they would oe cioso
and contracted. then and there they are opeii
and generous. and again, when ana wheIo n,,
Il ,nisht in ali reasons, be expected, OF theil N
10 he generous and free hearted, theh ani
there they utterly shut up anu i''s ~ on
benevolence at ALL Benevolence Is noe ! -, \
incored ingredient in the beng o. suGn there
little of it may be there, but u p ''us m
as q substratam of the soul SOL, u ~ : a,,a ~,
" shifting sand bar drifting hi.hep 5 aar ANY
thither by an uncertain current, 'iG, 500
hans when most needed, cannot oe banano a0ono.
There are others, however, VINO aio me e,e-
lent generous to a fault some say; n. .,,erelv
ment Of kinaness is not accidentally mersy 1enta5
traneienr % e merely it is sturdy oak plan,yn aan
IN their rature, sending its tap roo' VA III i
in te' the verv subsol of their beng a9a tsei II
makes ;tseIf nanifestit must MAKE and lessit \
manifest it is there as HE lolge, tSarsd s's,a !
cannot easily be crushed nor a slip;sg \ ;s sure
all it needs are the appliances alu ,,onces i ! i
to work. and with but limited app''.,igi agten :
viii Wv work and do something, ana o'tgi th;na
good deal more than the coa.pas'sdb on s. think q
With abundant appliances dare sep y Zone lone d
doing. "see," said a philosoPntea,di to ! 20.
ct Of some notoriety "see, sala !, q p,'iIh ppnd he
thronist zone of Gods noblemen, r,,tt;np a,lt j
pointed to man of limited means soar p0s,dE wid.
pair Of shoes on the feet oi . po0l -"