Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-06-03

II may be thoughta parauoA t'a' '"e
American people, blessed as they are
with a degree of comfort and pros
perity that perhaps no other nation
possesses, are yet more subject than
most others to discomfort. 1t might
seem that the exact reverse would be
the case-that the freedom, education,
leisure and opportunity for improve
ment here enjoyed would naturally
induce satisfaction, and Danish some OF
the repining that poverty, hardships
and struggles naturally induce. Yet
the fact that with us there is no limit
to any ones aspirings is II which, in
its results, exposes us in no ordinary
measure to the danger Of discontent'
While all are pushing forward with
eagcrness to obtain the prizes of life
that 10 outward barriers forbid, it Is.
impossible that all can gain them.
Many fail Of their objects from una
voidable circumstances, and many
more from the lack Of the energy aud
talent essential to secure success. In
ariStocratic countries distinction Of
classes is accepted rs a matter Of courses
inferiority of station is submitted to
without a struggle, aud these do not
create the chatting and resistance that
the least attempt to enforce them here
would Mt once produce. The universal
and eager aspiration to rise socially
meeting with no external obstacle,
while it is one of the blessings Of free
dom and cannot BIO too highly priced,
Is vet often followed by failure and
consequent discomfort. The presence
of this feeling may escape the superb
cial observer, for it Is often sensitive
and shrinks from notice. The discon-
tented man Is not always the II who
grumbles and frets. Discomfort Is
often hidden under u calm and indif-
terent demeanor. The author whose
works receive no favor, the merchant
whose business is decaying, the social
aspirant who l. coldly treated where
he longs to mlngle familiarity, may
wear n tranquil brow and betray no
disappointment, while yet they are
tormented by chasrin and discomfort.
There Is perhaps nothing which more
commonly engenders this feeling than
mortified pride. Many who have
either property or beauty. or some
other distinction which they think
ought to open the doors of every circle,
find to their veXation that some are
| closed against them. They brood over
this with anger that only burns the
more for being concealed, and II settled
feeling of discomfort Is apt to take
possession of their minds. Others suf-
fer from discomfort when they are sur
passed where they hid hoped to excel.
They have perhaps toiled hard and
u%nsucccssfully to obtain some of the
worlds prizes, while others, with
seemingly but little effort, have reached
forward and secured them. They be
come envious, morbid and unhappy.
The blessings they retain are under
valued, while those they have failed
10 obtain are magnltled far beyond
their real Importance. The immediate
causes of discomfort are numberless.
Some of those who seem to have all
that earth cau bestow-wealth, station.
education, friends and taent-are the
least satisfied. Tribes disconcert them.
A wet day, IN ill-fittins garment, n
broken engagement, q slight disap-
pointmcnt, are sufficient to destroy
their peace of mind, and render them
slaves to vexation and chaSrin. The
main cauSc of discomfort, however, Is
always to be found within. 1t has its
origin In seltislmess. Directly we for
get ourselves in our efforts for others,
we strike ut the very root Of all dis
content. The truly benevolent, loving
man is seldom tormented by vain re-
grets ut his own circumstances, and lie
who inwardly repines and chafes ut
his situation, and who Is harassed by
the spirit of discomfort. can in no surer
way free himself from the chains that
enslave him than by turning his
thoughts and energies to some good
work for others. There are no bless
ings, however rich, that discomfort will
not convert into evils, and no trials,
however severe, that serenity and vir-
tue may not transform into blessings.
Mere condition has little to do with
happiness; the poor and the rich, the
high and the low, are about equally
blessed with it. Life has her joys In
store for all, and he who will bring
fidelity, energy and cheerfulncss Into
his life's work will partake Of his full
share, whatever may be his outward
surroundings. But discomfort will
blight the fairest scene, and poison the
most favored lot. 1t makes little diff
ference what it Is We thus inwardly
Recommendations the ordinary trials
Of life, or our own peculiar disadvan-
tagcs, or petty vexations-if We meet
them in Il complaining spirit we I'M
derminc the foundations Of our W
happiness, and destroy onr influence
over others. But il we meet them with
Il calm and serene spirit, wisely exam
lining their nature to see how far they
may be removed, and how far they are
inevitable, exerting II energies to
amclioratc them where possible, and
patiently and firmly enduring them
when unavoidable, we shall SOW the
seeds Of virtue, and reap n full harvest
of happiness. Above all, if we reso-
lutely conquer the selfishness that Is