The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-11-18

| The following article constitutes the
'leader" in late issue Of the PhiladeI-
phia Ledger. " Is Seldom TINT Ne
meet with snch.au article in the editor
ial columns Of our daily Journals Or 6ns
containing more Of sound philosophy
than this
One of the most prolific sources os
open compl int aud secret discontcnti b
the. apparent, inequality of the human
lot Of life. In proof Of this we are
pointed to the outward differences 90
palpable to all Wealth and poverty.
health and sickness, education and N.
norance, ability aud feehleness, success
and failare, certainly present very op-
posite appearances; but that they are
either the Fixed and inevitable lot OF
those who now possess them, or that
they are themselves the true elements
OF life's happiness or misery are erron-
eous, though very prevalent ideas. The
truth that ought to be impressed on
every mind, and especially upon the
young, both TO prevent repining aud to
animate the energies to their fullest
capacity, is that i.ts Is aohaf ue make it,
Two men stand side by side gazing on
the same scene iu nature To one who
has bright and cheerful disposition IL
reveals oply beauty and gladpess; while
to the other, gloomy aud sad, the whole
scene issspread over with leadeu paih
L. is our own state Of mind that creates
for us, even nature herself, and paints
the same scene in beauty or 10 gloom.
Still more is our social world that wa
make il ourselves. The selfish and cold
hearted will ever fiud colduess in others;
the proud will be treated haughtily, the
angry and passionate viii receive rude
ness aud violence and those who dis-
honor themselves will be dishonored NV
others. But society, to the rood. the,
gentle, and the benevolent, is different.
Their example wins others to similar
virtues and develops the germs of good,
which though they may be hidden, yet
exist IN every heart From mans
estimate Of society as q whole we NAV
gain very fair knowledge Of his own.
character, for as he is SO will Others
appear unto him. To the pure m,
things are pure, because their purity,
like the magnet, attracts the same quail
ty 10 others while heart that Is self.
estranged from virtues can End noas
elsewhere.
| Equally true is il that our world of
circumstance and events IS what VI,
ourselves make it. The luxuries of
wealth, the triumphs Of success. the
scintillations Of genius, and even thai
blessings of health may be converted
into bitter evils if the well springs or
nature arc corrupt, while the severest
trials and temptations can, to purs
aud noble heart be changed into bleas-
ings The power Of trial to harm us
does not reside 10 itself, but in our own
feebieness to resist or to endure it,
Every temptation resisted purifes and
eleyates the heart, aud every sufferinr,
rightly borne strengthens our nature.
Business life seems to dry M solns
nAs siee unu ieau tnem away IRON h1ghoo
things, while in others il creates rirr
tuous Independence, nianliness, and IL
tegrity. Pleasure to one proves 1 ~.
sonous draught, while to another Il = :
healthful Refreshments. Thus lJe =
ichai zoe make %. IL is not made %, II
IT'S intrinsic pature, of the material
world, nor Of the society 10. which ~
mose, nor Of the external cifcumstanoes
which surround us Itis cur ~ -
ternai character that moulds and fast-
,ons all these outward things aud a.
tracts from them the bitter ~ tho avVet
that best assimilates with itself. Thess
outward circumstances contain the ~
senee OF both happissss aad pisary.
both good aud evil, Happy i thu psr-
son who can extract the sweet and lssys
the bitter, who can develop the ReoA
and ext'nguish tho evil. AZ tie SSslas
'st works up the elements into ths d..
sired condition and obtain fresh kuoxI-
edge from all the difficulties thsy e1k3-
bit, 50 IN the. moral everything external
may be resolved into good By the s..
tient Efforts ofiman, aud al that sssns
most adverse may be oyercome n a.
dured as to prove greater blessisx
than the most apparently fAvorsbly
events. rs "a sa|
Anis view ~ hie WIZ ieau " - pN4
? ~ ~ b