American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-04-13
view that with pleasure only in SO far as

he can conceive of it as an object OF con
temptation, and therefore he forms M
ideal world, and experiences the highes
enjoyment in its prospect. Could he view
this world without its evil associations
he would derive similar pleasure from
this life and the nearer we can approach
to such view of life, in that measure
will our happiness be increased. True, il
would be impossible for any right-minded
person to deceive himself into the BELIEF
that the world is without evil; and even
if it were possible, it would be altogether
unwise for him to do so. But there are Il
great many evils which it is far better fol
us never to know, and if we know them,
soon to forget and a willful and bliss
full ignorance of them is by no means i'm
possible. Our minds not being capable OF
perceiving and grasping all there is in the
universe, the more good we learn to view
the less opportunity there will be for see
ing evil. So the more we regard the
sorrow and wickedness in the world, the
less we can learn of good, and the greater
must be our unhappiness.
Happiness or unhappiness, then, does
not depend so much on our worldly con-
ditions, as the manner in which we view
it. If outward circumstance alone were
the criterion of happiness, then those
equal in this respect should be equally
happy. But this is far from the truth.
For of two persons in precisely similar
high degree of felicity, while the other,
in his wretchedness, pours forth COM
plants of wrongs and misfortunes
Whence arises the difference Since they
are situated alike, it can not be that one
suffers more real ill than the other. But
while the one allows his mind to be
wholly occupied with the little griefs and
misfortunes of life, the other, thankful
fer the great blessings he enjoys, has no
memory for the little evils that may hap
pen to accompany them. The one grasp
ing the rose, howls and curses when its
little thorn sting his flesh, but the other,
grateful for such beautiful gift of ma
ture, forgets the Slight pricks in the
pleasure he receives from its possession.
One of the greatest sources of our dis
contentment is found in our false estima-
lions. We set too low value on what
we possess, and value that very highly
which is out of our reach, even though it
may be of the. smallest importance. Men
too frequently forget what a fortune they
have in the possession of good health.
true Sfrisnds and . good government, and
worry life away because they cannot en-
joy its luxaries. Is there any reason why
any one who has a moderate provision of
food and raiment should be grieved be-
cause he cannot sport fine carriage or
live in splendid mansion Is it probable
that these would increase his enjoyment :?
On the contrary, the man who is unhappy
in moderate circumstances would still be
unhappy were all the riches and Injuries
of the earth his own. Luxury and super
of wealth seldom increase con-
tentment. Men who are unhappy with
out these are never made happy by pos
SpSSInp them Nnt Sl1nh Is tho innnn.
sistency of men that they set the very
highest value on things which are of least
use, and give themselves far more pain
and trouble in striving for the luxuries
than the real necessities of life. If OBJ
jects were valued only according to the
degree in which they contribute to real
happiness, your gaudy and costly dress
would be given in exchange for plain
attire. Your magnificent residence would
be worth no more to you than the con-
venient cottage; and a good sharp ak
would be taken in equal exchange for the
diamond.
There is no doubt that Imagination has
much to do with our lives. To imagine
ourselves happy is to be happy. To
imagine ourselves miserable<is as truly
misery as though it were absolutely
real. A story is related of French
man whose fortune, by some chance,
was reduced to 100000. This
compared with what he once possessed,
appeared to him as nothing. He was
made wretched with the ever-increasing
fear of comingto want. He seemed to see
poverty staring in at his door; but he held
his money with a misery grasp, and at
last, through fear of starving, committed
suicide. There were many beggars then
in Paris, but none so thoroughly miserable
hp. nd oil haoar1 in, ari OF ha1 do
ceived him into the belief that he was
poor. In similar manner, half the mis-
cry in the world derives it's existence from
Imagination alone. If used properly, this
faculty would always be a source of plea
sure, but too frequently it seems to pre-
vent men from taking true and honest
view of humanity. If we can not see men
as they really are, it would be far better to
consider them all good than all bad. But
many never fully trust humanity. Every
mistake which affects them adversely they
seem to regard as the predetermined result
Of malice. Everybody, they think, laughs
at their misfortunes, and envies their sue
cess. 1t is only in the past that they look
for those who are truly noble and honest.
Surely, it is better to believe that in past
ages men were better than they arc now
than to think them always bad; and since
our happiness must all depend on the pres
ent, it is of the utmost Importance that
we allow the men of our own times the
praise of all the virtues they possess. To
believe that mems motives are good; to be
charitable toward their mistakes; to allow
the glow of one virtuous deed to hide
many sins from our eyes, is the wisest way
of viewing mankind. To regard any class
of men as totally depraved, is as hurtful
to our own happiness as it is absolutely
false 90 IN 10 hurniun ch of r1i
or search the wilds of Africa, or the icy
regions of the poles, and you will seek in
vain for the one in whose bosom no spark
of virtue yet remains. True, it may seem
to be faint, but never SO faint that it will
not sometimes glow with surprising radi-
lnce. You will seek as long for the to-
tally depraved man as for the one who is
absolutely perfect. = = --r-
5 Life is to great extent just what we
make it; and to make ourselves wretched
IS NO great task. To this end, a man
need not put on sackcloth, or
destroy his property, or shut himself
change, in the least, his outward circum-
stances. But let him view life on its
darkest side, and think that no evil be.
falfs others so great as himself; let him
attribute to men the worst motives in
every action, and regard none as worthy
IF his confidence, and he will need little
more to make his misery complete. To
make life as agreeable as possible, we
should estimate at their true value our
great general blessings we should view
he virtues of men through magnifying
glasses, and, as far as possible, allow the
glory of their deeds to dazzle our eyes to
heir faults; and then, though our posi-
ions I'm life may be humble, yet the world
will not appear to be such vale of tears,
Is "a place in which to be thankful and