Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-04-26
POWERS.

Men are often called upon to perform
tasks for which they appear to possess
no ability and yet, when all are an
ticipating failure, sufficient power will
be developed to meet the exigency.
The body, unlike even the most perfect
machinery, gains strength by use, and
is able to endure and conquer, because
it has endured aud conquered. In
great emergencies, men will exhibit q
muscular strength and fortitude that
would have been pronounced impossible
under the ordinary routine Of life.
The stimulus of anger or the impulse
Of humanity will so excite the nerves OF
action, that an apparently p~reternatursl
strength will he exhibited. Even tho
coward may become a hero for the
moment, and the most timid woman DO
nerved with frmness. The fact OF
such powers being brought out even
once, and but for an instant, proves
that they existed before, though unde-
veloped by circumstances.
The same is true of the Intellectual
aculties. Tax them and they grow
efficient. Their force in any man can
never be ~discoyered, nor their capacity
measured, except by the difficulties
,nI th. lnhNro nnAnYad
Probably no great man in any sphere
at first conceived that he possessed
even the germs Of the powers that were
| gradually developed during a life OF
strenuous effort. The moral abilities
that lie latent in the heart are equally
capable of great development. The
power Of doing good exists in some
measure in every individual. BY use
aud habit it is strengthened, and lives
permanently in the breast of him who
cherishes it, investing him with a char
acter for integrity and goodness that
diguiies his most common actions, and
gives him an unmistakable influence
over the hearts aud lives Of others. A
species of momentum is thus created by
keeping in exercise the moral nature.
Though these varied latent abilities
exist in mankind, two things are needed
to ~develope them in any useful diree-
ton, outward circumstances aud inter
nal effort. No plant a grow health
fully by inherent ability, without light,
soil and moisture. No animal with
lungs ever so perfect can breathe with
out air. No man can walk without the
external solid ground. So no mental or
moral faculties can be developed I'M
less occasions and duties are presented
that are calculated to draw them out.
| The chief reason why so much talent
and so many powers of body, mind and
soul are undeveloped and unproductive
is not always the lack Of outward op.
portunities, but the absence of internal
effort. If physical power aud vigor be
the reward Of continued and steady ex-
ertiou, it is also truo that this power
| can be obtained in no other way. n
most favorable occasions for c~ultivatiug
the muscles will bring no strength to him
who folds his arms in idlsness. So il,
through Observation-Disclosures or lethar-
gy, we shrink from duties de-
manding energy Of action, we
shall remain incapable. 1t is chiefly
from this lack Of effort, this want Of
faith in our own powers, that so few
rise to positions of high mental and
moral ascendsncy. We look up to
nights of attainment with u despair Of
ever reaching them, forgetting that
none ever trod the mountain top with
on, climbing step by step its rugged
sides. Humility is n virtue, but carried
to excess, and united with %lHziness, it
NAV sink II mau into imbecility, and de-
stroy all possibility Of his elevation or
usefulness. In the steady and ener-
getic pursuit of duty, and in striving to
attain higher standards Of excellence,
courage, confidence and personal eff
cheney of every kind are stimulated and
new powers are continually evolved,
sufficient for all present emergencies,
aud increasing with all future needs.
All the master spirits of the world have
been made strong by effort, and each
one, however humble or feeble he may
be, can develop the powers now latent
within him until present imPossibilities
are vnnquished, aud new attachments
opened TO his extended view.