Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-03-12
Life-What Is itf

and regarded it as the most precious that
could bs bestowed upon them, yet always
without knowing whsl i, is Philoso-
pliers. psychologists, meisphysicians,
have in Iurn attempted TO solve The prob
lem By the sub'le,ies OF logic. by scien-
iilic investigations, by meditation on The
laws which regulate the existence and
movements Of Ihe whole universe, bu,
hiihero without arriving ., any sa,isfac,o
rs result. Disappointed ambition has
pronounced il 10 be "a tale told by an i'd.
ioi, foil Of sound and fury, signifyins
nothing" The frs, germ of life in the
animal ard vcge,sbIe Kingdoms has moth.
ing in shape or form indicating what il is
10 BECOME and when the vital principle
quits i,s mortal residence il takes is te-
psriure silently. inrisibly. mysieriously,
so that the point Of time is often doobIful.
though its absence begins soon TO be fel,
by the icy chill which succeeds to The
warmth aud joyousness Of life. Well
may man deRominsle himsel q microcosm
little universe for such he really is
and, 10 all intents and purposes. quite as
uninielllgible as the grea, one. When
the first receives animation he is little
more than an uniformed particle Of matter;
bu, no sooner does the divine spark en-.
ter him than he displays motion, and &C.
livity. and groath and development. and
by degrees all the cells and chambers Of
the mind become filled with im agery iih
living and palPiisiing ideas, eternal in
their essences, each and all Of them rep.
resening some portion, material or imma.
terial, Of Co.'s creation, and swelling
and expanding, ill the interior Of the
new creation becomes mirror, vast c.
nough TO reflect The entire universe with.
out.
Well, therefore. may We exclaim
What is life ! Go 10 the grassy grave
and put The question there. and The worms.
il they could speak, would snswer--dust
and ashes Blu, their answer would be
false ; what has been given up 10 their
keeping is not and never was life. Ii held
life, and vas loved for what il held but
when il fell life scared away over The
ruins to Him who gave it. 1t has been
ssid that what exists in succession cannot
be eternal. We exist in succession (;
that is, are older 10 day than we were
yesterday, and therefore are not eternal.
But does this imply that we shall ever
cesse TO live ! Far from it; the spirits
which come forth from God csnno, die
they are inmorlsl but God only is eler.
nal, becsuse He had no beginning. and
can have no end, and for Him. there fore,
time has no existence. He does not grow
older or wiser, or greater or less all per-
lectlon is contained in Him. He is the
wellspring OF life 10 Himself and 10 every.
thing else which exists if The being OF
other things can be truly called existence
when compared with His. To exist, in
the language from which the word springs
signifies to stand out. 10 possess dis
,iDct and separate being, and thus TO con.
siitute palpabe contrast with nothing
ness. Bu, in this world, at least. o man
walke!h in vain shadow, aud disquicieih
himself in vain perhaps because he has
not as yet passed The threshold of life
and only looks from mist and twilight
upon lis real sublime dwelling place.
How offer do moderate drinkers take
refuge, when demonstrated with in the as.
reriion 81 can take drink, and let il
alone. know when get enough
We have heard this from the lips Of m ore
than one person addicted 10 the hsbi, o.
taking an "occasiolsl glass;" and as We
have followed them through life, we hsv,
seen them take the occasional more ant
more frequently, the custom growing
stronger, the temptation greater and great
er. until they have finally succumbed Il
these slmos, irresistible influences. Read
er, your only safety in total and upqusli
fed abstinence.
How do look. Pompey = said I
young dandy 10 his servant, when be hat
finished dressing. Elegant, mssss; yor
look bold as lion.' Bold ss . lion
Pompey How do you kno~l Voc
never saw a hon. oh yes, mssss.
seed one down to massa Jenks', ip bi,
STABLE Down TO Jenbs', Pompey
Why. you gres, fool, jerks has moi go, a
lion; that's jscksss.' 'Csn'l help il
mssss; you look jus, like him.
Tbe Manassas Gazette says; Mr. WIN
Beavers, lost little daughter, on Sunds j
evening last, under distressing circum
stances. She had been left al home {,
lake care Of tho house, and becomin,
sleepy lay down in front Of The FIRE. wheI
her clothes csught FIRE, and she was en-
veloped 10 flames. She. however. in or
der 10 check the FIRE, ran to stream .
bouiiweniy yards distant from the hous
and plunged in but too late to afford an,
relief; after suffering untold sgoniss OH
died on Tuesday night.
No man can ever become eminent il
anything unless he works at il with Al
earnesiness bordering on entbusiam.
Educate The wtole man-the head IN
heart. the body. The head 10 think, ,b
heart TO feel and the body 10 act.
All minds are Influenced every momen
and there 10 providence in every feeling
thought and word.
The true philosopher is ons WHO cal
smile at his own misfortunes and pity ant
relieve hose Of others.
!