Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-06-11
QUIET VIRTUES.

QUIET VIRTUES.
The power and efficiency of ener-
getic effort are 70 evident that few in
this busy land need urging to adopt
them. Exertion Is universally ap-
plauded, while Its opposite, in all the
shades Of feeble inertia OF culpable In
dolence, receives contempt. SO high
Is the respect we accord to energy, that
we are In some danger of undertaking
another class Of virtues, opposite In
their nature, but not less valuable to
the development Of character-those
that may be placed under the general
head of patience. It Is a common I'M
preston that when we are not engaged
In actual exertion, we are accomplish
ing nothing, and that those who from
any circumstances, or In any degree,
are debarred from a life Of constant
activity, are by that much living to no
purpose In the world. A truer insight
Into character shows that the passive
virtues are as needfll to Its perfection
a the active; that there Is q heroism
In suffering as well as in doing, In in
ward patience as well as In outward
performance. OF the two classes Of
virtues the former Is the more difficult
to practice, and the more rare. Men
naturally love to be active. They are
eager to press into the arena Of busy
life, and to take their places among
the workers Of the world. It Is COM
paraavely easy to any but the actual
sluspard to be up and doing and
there isa natural thirst In every healthy
nature for the actual exercise Of the
faculties. Besides this craving Of ma
ture for activity, Its rewards are pal
pablo and follow closely on its per-
Torrance. Toll Is sweetened by the
anticipation of its speedy results, and
society bestows her fayors with lavish
hand on the energetic and the indus
trious. None Of these stimulants ex-
cite Us to the practice Of the humber
and more retiring virtues Of patience
and endurance. If we bear trials nobly,
II we forgive injuries c~heerfally, If we
restrain anger or envy, II we cultivate
serenity In the midst Of annoyances,
we must have some deeper and more
secret motive than the applause Of
men or the hope of material ben
efit. In this sphere Of virtue, no
ambition excites IL passion slim
ulates, principle only can lead,
and the hope Of attaining higher
moral excellence must be the chief
allurement. Great men In action
often signally fall in these passive vir-
tues. It is frequently the hardest trial
Of heroism to do nothing but wait, and
many who perform the grandest ex-
PLOTS known to humanity, when they
arrive at that stage where greatness
consists In patience and forbearance,
lose their dignity. and sometimes as
tonish the world as much by their
weakness as they have before by their
power. If there Is heroism In action
that sxcites admiration, there isa sub.
Unity In patience that commands ven
Grafton. In all efforts to improve OF
reform others, these gentle virtues
play an important part. While many
Will openly repel active methods to
control them, none car resist the un-
pretentious goodness that controls by
example, and only draws others to II
by the attraction of its WI sweetness.
Not aiming to subdue, it yet melts the
Icy heart by Its own warmth, and eff
fects by quiet example what thousands
Of precepts would fail to establish.
None can fully estimate the value of
these quiet virtues as a power in hu-
man life. We may form some idea Of
their comparative effectiveness when
we remember how often, while we
have remained Indifferent to the most
Jealous efforts openly made, We have
yielded an involuntary respect to the
dlent example of noble endurance, of
love and trust and patience. There
are some mel who, from lack Of health
or opportunity, cannot hope to be great
In action. They mourn, perchance,
their disability, believing that they can
b Of no use In the world. Such may
take courage from the great truth that
a higher possibility than that of action
Il granted them. They can suffer no
bly,, bear bravely, love and trust stead
lastly, and In 50 doing may exert an
untold power over the hearts and lives
Of others while developing the best
parts Of their own characters. Those
to whom active energy Is natural will
increase their power for good by the
cultivation Of a patient and ~forbearing
spirit. These virtues, If cherished,
Win spring up In every breast, bearing
. rich harvest, which, while blessing
the owner, shall also enable him to
benefit his fellow-beings.
GETTING OLD.-Senator Nye, the
old Gray Eagle Of Nevada, was IS
years old yesterday. The anniversary
Of his birthday was celebrated In Car
son City, by his admirers, by a salute
of guns under the direction Of Colonel
Curry. SO says the appeal. We also
struck q match on our right thigh in