Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-11-17
STEADY HABITS.


more energy aud accuracy, lie might
have done better. There never was q
perfect poet or painter. or sculptor, or
physician or lawyer. No man would
attain to emineace in any of these pur-
suits, BY initiating the failings as well
as the excellences Of even the most dis
tinguished in their professions. The
wise man studies the points OF excel
lence in each, and marks their various
approaches to perfection, aud how they
were acquired, and if he studies their
faults, it is only to avoid them. The
man who aims most earnestly at a per-
feet standard, will make the nearest
approach to it. Though he may fall far
below his mark, yet his progress will be
rapid, his attachments great, and thus
trained and disciplined, he may even
appear to others to have attained to that
for which he still labors and hopes.
The same truth applies in matters OF
| the heart and life. Those who are aim
ing at u perfect standard Of excellence
in social, moral and religious life, fol-
lowing it, though it may be at n distance
| discouragiug to themselves, are really
making the greatest approach to what
they seek, and are daily improving and
progressing in excellence and virtue. 1t
is true that such q life requires constant
watchfuluess, but this will soon become
easy and instructive. Habits Of untir-
ing vigilance, difficult and painful at
the outset, when once formed, yield q
compound interest in their results. The
formation of good habits is like the
planting Of an acorn, which, in that
| form, is so feeble that Al infant foot
may crush it, but ultimately becomes
an oak which giants cannot shake. a
life aiming at perfection requires atten-
| ton to minute duties that are in con-
slant danger of being overlooked. Lit
tie things form the character, little vir-
tues practiced faithfully make greater
ones easy, and make up in number what
they seem to lack in Importance. Just
as all the daily drilling Of troops in
times Of peace enables them to face the
enemy with confidence in the day Of
battle, so meeting and overcoming the
little temptations and difficulties which
| daily beset mankind are the best means
of acquiring those ~yirtuous principles
that will support them in the hour OF
greatest danger. The little duty is the
stepping-stone to the higher. As he
who should despiso the simpler prob
lens Of Euclid because they seem so
meagre in their results could never
reach the higher mathematics, or make
| those ]far-reaching calculations upon
which so much Of practical science de-
ponds, so he who despises the minor
virtues and duties Of life, which are
the foundations of nearly all practical
good, can never attain to nm experience
of the higher.
The man who is scrupulous in honesty
to a fraction, and steadily resists every
temptation to overreach in the smallest
matters, will gradually acquire a prin-
ciple so firm that no opportunity, how
ever .alluring, could for q moment even
tempt him to sacrifice his integrity.
And the same is true with all the yir-
tues. High aims and constant minute
endeavors to follow up the standard Of
perfection in everything, are the great
| means Of progressive improvement. 1t
is true that this implies n daily struggle
and effort that may seem hard to many.
If an inward love for excellence and n
strong will to pursue it do not enter
into this struggle, no progress in virtue
will be made. In making perfection
their aim, they must daily strive to live
up practically to what they hold theo-
retically. When they become conscious
of any duty, it must be done fearlessly,
thoroughly, and at whatever sacrifice.
In every part Of their conduct, their
company, their reading, their habits of
any kind, in the health of their bodies,
the Improvement Of their minds, and
the fulfllment of every social and re-
ligious duty, while they aim at a perfect
understanding of the most excellent
way, they must accurately practice each
new lesson rs fast as they gain it. 1t is
thus that all advances in knowledge be-
come vitalized.