The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-09-28
miscellaneous.
Looking into the Future.


1t is seldom that we find so much true
philosophy couehed in SO few words, as is
contained in the following article from the
Philadelphia Ledger.
There are, perhaps few Of US who have
not al times wished for the power of look
ing into the future, Of seeing, as we some
times express ia, ''what is going to happen
of becoming as intimately acquainted with
the tire to come as we are with that which
has past. Whether such knowledge would
add to our real happiness, may well be
doubted. At any rate, knowing how futile
Is the wish, most people are wise enough
20 relinqRish its indulgence, or, at least, to
keep il for an occasional and harmless pas
time. Yet, perhaps, none Of us fully APP
preciate hCy much Of that longed for power
really resides undeveloped in the human
mind, or how greatly apeculiar selfculture
might envolve within us a certain spirit Of
prophecy, which, while never pandering to
IDLE curiosity, should yet reveal to us
enough Of what the veil Of the future now
hides to enable us TO live more intellgently
because more harmoniously with nature
and her laws.
In the physical world the rapid strides
that have been made in this direction are
wonderful. Science now unfolds secrets
of the universe that were once deemed
fathomiess, and predicts with accuracy the
condition of the atmosphere, the position
of tie planets, the appearance of meteors
and comets, and numberless changes, the
announcement ofwhich would once have
been deemed an audaeious assumption.
Such fore.knowledgs has been acquired
simply blythe study ofthe laws which govern
the material universe, and similar inyes.
tigation extended to humanity, with all its
wonderful and complex relations to the
world ofmind and thought and spirit, would
reveal to US much that is now hidden, and
tighten many paths that are now dark and
uncertain.
There is no law in human affairs more
immutable and potent than that which con-
meets, by indissoluble bonds, destiny with
character. five would know what is to
befall us, in the truest sense Of the phrase,
We must correctly appreciate our inmost
character. This gives the key to all our
future, and unlocks secrets which no oracle
can ever reveal. II is not merely the events
and circumstances Of our lives that are so
largely controlled by our inmost DISPOSE
tons, though this is true to an extent that
We rarely appreciate. What are the great
events that mark the life of the indulsent
pleasure seeker Sickness, disease and pre-
naturedecay. Ofthe spendthrift Poverty,
0fthe selfish and misery? Desolation and
loneliness. OF the faithless and dishonest?
The finger Of scorn and a life of disgrace.
On the other hand, integrity, economy and
energy lead inevitably TO the most perms-
nent success; benevolence and good will
bring friends; temperance and good habits
are accompanied BY health and long life.
Even the most external surroundings of
life are thus more closely allied to chnrac
ter, and more dependent upon it, than we
ever imagine. But life is not made up Of
events; man is not "the creature Of circnm.
stances" as is so often asserted. The great
results of life flow from character, not from
condition. Different characters bring out
OF the same outward events totally opposite
issues. The cheerful and the melancholy
man look upon the same scene in nature,
but how differently are they impressed |
To the one all is beauty and delight, TO the
other all is gloom and sadness.
The world without reflects that which is
within. SO society ia often to US but a
reflection of our own nature. The selfish
orproud, or cold or jealous disposition
suffers annoyance, disappointment aud
pain from the very same sources which
bring love and joy to the heart of the gentle
and kind. Every Characteristic has a
magnetism by which ii draws its like itself,
unfolding from others that which is in syn.
patty with itself, and thus perpetaating and
recreatingit There are no blessings which
may not be changed into evils, no trials OF
suiferings that may not be transformed into
blessings. Temptation brings ruin to one,
and strength to another: not by its innate
power, but by simply evolving the character
that is tried. Pleasure is poison to one,
aud healihful refresbment to another.
The same privileges, the same discipline
viii cause one 10 rise to heights of virtue,
and another to sink into weakness and
shame.
Our welfare and our woe do not arise
chiefly from without, but from within. The
world is but the reflection Of the soul. Life
is the history, OF of events, bat of mind,
not of situations, but of character. In this
sense we may look with confidence into the
future, and predict with certainty what is in
store for US. The special aud outward
trialsand temptations, sorrows and pleasures
tina await us we may not foresee, but their
grand results upon our lives for good or for
evil, for blessing or for woe, for improve
ment or for degenerney we may fearlessly
predict, for they rest not upon the nature
Of the events themselves, but upon the
character which receives them and blends
them into unison with ITSELF