Middletown transcript., 1869-08-14
Life Is what we Make It.

Inc IoiloWng article constitutes the
"leader" in late issue of the Philadelphia
Ledger. 1t is seldom that VIC meet with
such an article in the editorial columns of
our daily journals, or one containing more
of sound philosophy than this:
One of the most prolific sources of open
complaint and secret discomfort is the APP
parent inequality of the human lot in life.
In proof of this, we are pointed to the out
ward differences SO palpablc to all. Wealth
and poverty, health and sickness, education
and ignorance, ability and feebleness, sue
cess and failure, 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 them
selves the true elements of lifes happiness |
or misery, are erroneous, though very pre-
valent ideas. The truth that ought to be
impressed ON every mind, and especially
upon the young, both to prevent repining,
and to animate the energies to their fullest
capacity, is that life Is aohat are make 1t.
Two men stand side by side, gazing on the
same scene in nature. To one, who has a
bright and cheerful disposition, it reveals
only beauty and gladness; while to the
other, gloomy and sad, the whole scene is
spread over with leaden pail. 1t is our
own state of mind that creates for us, even
Nature herself, and paints the same scene
in beauty or in gloom.
Still more is our social acond what we
make it ourselves The selfish and cold
hearted will ever find coldness and selfish
ness in others the proud will be treated
haughtily, the angry and passionate will
receive rudeness and violence, and those
who dishonor themselves will be dishonored
by Others But society, to the good, the
gentle, and the benevolent, is different.
Their example wins others to similar vir-
tues and develops the germs of good,
: which, though they may be hidden, yet
exist in every heart. From mans esti-
mate of society as a whole, we may gain
: very fair knowledge of his own charac-
;s ter, for as he is, so will others appear to
q him. To the pure, all things are pure,
= because their purity, like the magnet, at
n tracts the same quality in others; while
;s the heart that is itself estranged from vir-
;, tue, can find none elsewhere.
Equally true is it, that our world of
to circumstances and events is what we our
selves make it. The luxurics of wealth,
the triumphs of success, the scintillations
J" of genius, and even the blessings of health,
may be converted into bitter evils if the
well springs of nature are corrupt while
y the severest trials and temptations can, to
n n a pure and noble heart, be changed into
- blessings. The power of trial to harm us
- does not reside in itself, but in our own
' feebleness to resist or to endure it. Every
temptation resisted purifcs and elevates
y, the heart, and every suffering rightly
= borne strengthens our nature. Business
life seems to dry up some natures, and
lead them away from higher things; while
in others, it creates virtuous independence,
SIS manliness, and integrity. Pleasure to one
to proves poisonous draught, while to an
ed other it is healthful refreshment Thus
p life is lehat ace maize 1t. 1t is not made
he up, in its intrinsic nature, of the material
u world, nor of the society in which we
On move, nor of the external circumstances
he which surround us. 1t is our own inter
nal character that moulds and fashions all
these outward things, and extracts from
IT. them the bitter or the sweet that best as
ay similates with itself. These outward cir
ed cumstances contain the essence of both
wv happiness and misery-both good and
ou evil. Happy is the person who can ex-
or, tract the sweet and leave the bitter-whc
can develop the good and extinguish the
evil. AS the chemist works up the ele.
oL ments into the desired condition, and OBJ.
ed tains fresh knowledge from all the diff
mt culties they exhibit, so in the moral,
no everything external may be resolved into
M good by the patient efforts of man, and
M all that seems most adverse may be sc
overcome or endured as to prove greater
blessing than the most apparently favora
BILE events.
ort This view Of life will lead us to put
in juster estimate upon the complaints whicl
mo are so rife among all. If life is what W.
ID make it, we must look within and no
49, without for the sources of discomfort
We complain of society, of circumstances
|, of everything external but in most lit
oly eral sense they are all what we max
.Wus W them. In proportion as we are indus
~ trious and virtuous shall we be honoreC
III and rewarded; in proportion as we ar
aS lovely, we shall be beloved; and even il
the most trying situations, and the sores
trials, the main point as to their severity
oy, the spirit in which they are received. Pr
the tient, faithful endeavor never results j
ord continued unhappiness, and is never ulti
mt mately unsuccessful. Misery chiefly ar
Sos from insufficient effort and conseduer
ill-success. If then we would find lii
,ci- good, we must fill our hearts with goot
lild ness; II we would have the world shin
v a brightly upon us, we must kindle ligl
In our own souls and cause it to shed
II