The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-15
Yiclding to tkssEfsvitas,c.

i.uSiauo, mas moral adapted to
these times;
sThe Lord Keeper, the Marquis Of
Winchester, being in his 9th year,
and about to die. was asked show he
Gid bear up in these dangerous times,
wherein great alterations were made,
both in Church and State?' he return
cd the noted answer-'By being st
willow and not IN oak"
This pithy answer contains much
worldly wisdom, and may be turned to
advantage in these troublousc times.
The facile alertnoss with which the
crafty, timc-sclvinS co'1!tier changes
his opinions and principles to accom-
plish his scliisl! purposes, is greatly
fep1gnant to the mind impressed
with strong "nsI catpest convictions
This is sheer pra1iic&cy, and is alto
,SotEcr different from that calm wis:lOln
which instci.tts It's to avoid wha5 We
cannot encounter without injury, ai.d
TO sacrifice what we can no longer re-
tain wit..oilt the loss o. other interests
OF greater value. He who has seen
great oaks the growth of centuries,
snapped like twigSs and swept away
before the 1csistlcss tornado, while The
delicate osier remained fresh, .rSon
and uninjured, can appreciate the
significance and aptncss OF the old
roblcmall' s figure.
lss-As the oak that matches its strength
against the storm vii! inevitably fa:l,
so the man who opposes his single
will, however strong, his single col;-
rage, however daring, 10 the c,llccti.:e
force of y mighty n.ultitudc sweeping
on to its appointed destiny, will surely
be crushed. But the oak cannot bend.
the wil}owcanrot stiiicn It. If. Ek.n,
endowed with varied capabilities. can.
If he Will, accommodate himself u
the pressure OF circumstances. In
this Ire may learn useful lessons, even
from the inferior animals, Who cxcr:
cise the instincts and powers with
which nature h.ls endowed them
Naturalists tell Us of u fish Which
c!udes pursuit by darllcning the water
with Il fluid which it gcncr te; and
elects. We have Ill heard OF that in
offensive animal, the armlliill, which,
when attacked, rolls itself into y ball,
thus presenting to it,; asSailant a sllr-
<f.,.c OF impcnetr:.hla "-lnoG. Livery
child has read OF the porcrp:nc, which,
conccallng its vulnerable parts, darts
is pointed 4u.lls against the c:,ala.:.
Car own observation has u;lHGnt us
That on the approach OF storms many
beasts seel: places OF safety, and that
fowls retire to t.L"ir roosts. A univrr-
sal instinct teaches th"sc creatures to
:'aun dangers ti!&t tacv cannot rS.,:si!..
4
is gifted With rca>pn--anji shall he
act With less discretion than b"ati:>l,
beasts? TO adapt ourselves to SUI
rounding; circumstances; is not only :,
mark Of good sense, but it is IL hugh
duty.
Tnc varying Sc:rc,lmstaaccs III which
men are place.; arc as the varying
countries through which the traveller
passes He m,ls5 conform himself to
those changing circumstances as tIc
traveller conforms his apparel and his
habits ;tl,! manners t. the c!lm;lte and
10 the c;i-;rms OF the various co;ntli"s
through! which h" passes. We r>:,l
that in Greenland, one day and one
night make up the year, q, II Icing OF
the duration OF six months. II i&;llSo
sad that the Inhabitants live chiefly
upon the hlubher of the whale, and
upon 1ish oil. Now, the soionvn>. in
Greenland woil.I fare badly who
should refuse to sic2p III the day time
and to eat the biilblcr and dr:n, tie
oil when there wls-yto;hing else to on!
and drink. In Australia, called by
Sidney Smith ''that land Of kan:sl-
roos and ronvicts," tao winter months
arc May, Jane and July. The travel
cr who should refuse to put on Ills
winter apparel for the ':ns;, factory
Lsfeason t+Mhc has been accustomed in
his county to wear it in December,
january asid February, would be prct-
ty certain to contract IL i'lauiisy.
The moral Of these simple illustra-