The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-11
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''' " "@Ss "has ptOI'VIttun OF Ms lte mas
been devoted to make-shifis, that is, to fol-
lowing some temporary line Of conduct
which he by no means defends or contcm-
plates as permanent habit, but which he
persuades himself isjusti6ed by present me-
ccssities. Most Of US have or intend to
have some plan by which to regulate our
lives some aims to accomplish and some
sphere to gil which shall bring our powers
into regular aud worthy action. But
meantime sudden exigencies press us un-
expected emergencies arise, and strenp
desires impel us in directions which we
had not meant to take, and frequently in.
duce conduct for which we are ever spol.
ogizing to ourselves as being only transient
and exceptional. Unfortunately, however
these make-shifis are Of such constant oc,
currencc that by degrees they become
consolidated into habits, and unconsciously
to ourselves they come at length to crowd
out the life we had pictured, and to form
US into utterly different characters from
those we had hoped to become.
1t is thus, for example, with our expen,
ditures. No one ever intends to become a
spendthrift or miser On the contrary
most persons commencing life mean to
bring their expenses within their income
to live moderately, but not meanly; liber-
ally, but not prodigally. Some occasion
occurs, however, which is thought SO ex.
ceptional as to warrant an expense dispro-
portionate to the means. Others follow
with equally impcrious demands, each
bringing with it the conviction that it will
never be repeated. Increasing in frequen.
cy, with the encouragement they rccsive,
they at length cease to be exceptional and
become the regular course, fostering the
habit of extravaganza, until some day the
unfortunate man awakes to find himself q
bankrupt. The love of gain takes hold Of
a man, and he resolves to pinch at all cor
ners, until he acquires given sum. He
does not defend stinginess; tits, he thinks,
but Temporary make-shift for a a special
purpose. But when he has succeeded in
accumulating the proposed amount, his
make-shift has become habit from which
he no longer desires to be free. Hence.
forth he is its willing slave, and for gain
he continues to sacrifice comfort, friends,
and perchance integrity itself
So with conyiyial exeesses. They begin
always as exceptions. The young me 4
spurns the idea Of his ever becomio. a
drunkard, gambler, or asensaalist Only
on rare occasions does he intend to indulge
his lower nature, when some exigcacy oc-
ours or good fellowship allares. Alas
these exceptions too often become the rule
Of his life. He thought to be master of
his passions, and he has become their slave,
In the same way one will commence life
with the design of filling justly his various
relations. His duties to his business, his
family, his country and his friends are all
recognized and provided for. Work and
recreation, self-eulture and beneyolen. en-
terprise, all have place in his system.
But gradually some one of these objects
swells in his regard to the d,,riment Of III.
rest. Perhaps, the exigencies of his bust
ness, yielded to at first from seeming ne.
cessity, and at last from inclination. steal
away his heart from his family, swallow
up his regard for social interests, and de-
stroy the balance ofa manly life. Or his
love of ease or amusement creeps on in
sidiously, and little by little changes him
into an idler. Or his party zeal in poll
tics 80 absorbs him as to destroy his use
fulness in all other directions. In any
case he has spoiled his life by yielding to
emergencies which he thought transient
and exceptional, but which have become
habitual aud permanent.
There are some who are always getting
ready to live, but never fairly entering up
on life, The future is filed with bright
hopes and fair promises, but the present
they ignore. When something has been
accomplished, or some change been com.
pleted, when they get through with a
pressing work, or acquire larger opportu-
mites, then they will take their places in
life as worthy, honorable, useful men and
women, conquering the evils to which they
now succumb, and practising the virtues
they now neglect. Meantime, until that
happy hour arrives, life is but make-shift
a time to be passed over and forgotten, a
period in whichitis not worth while to strive
for noble ends, and in which emergencies
that will soon be over compel them to prac-
tice what they disapprove, and what in the
future they win strepuously avoid. Never
was there a more pernicious error The
ignis fatpus that they are following win
elude them till life itself be spent. Tie
only future that can ever be known is that
which We are constructing out Of the pres
ent. Every thought reproduces itself in
our mental life; every act congeals into a
habit; every habit is built into our char.
acters for good or for evil, and clinas
% our whole existence Byron well says,
I" The best Of prophets Of the future Is the
past. Z Let US then abolish all makc-shifts.
and bring every part of our present actual
life into the closest sympathy with our
highest ideal. The character thus form a
will be no patchwork Of systems and ex.
ceptions, but solemn and enduring cdi-
flee, constructed on > wise plan, built on
strong foundations, with every stone, small
and great, fitsed into It's appointed niche
aud contributing 70 the permanence and
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