River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-04-03

fragments over DOtu uecA auu
And yet that very rock has been the
mariners guide from the early dawn OF
mans existence. It is seen in the dis
lance, even with the naked eye-hls'
tory points to lt-experience rehearses
sad tales concerning il, aud the very
foot.lights of our pathway fcreshado~ it
Adversely! And what is ity IL is a
certain something, real in character, yet
intangible; it is a something which Is
supposed to oppose the success or de
sire Of the individual; an event, or a Sc
ries of events attended with severe ;rl-
ais or misfortunes; an unforeseen, yst
c.ways visible calamity, OF affl'otlou,
deserved or undeserved; distress oil
mind, of body, or of both.
"Well said, adversely" Yes ADVERSE
ty; and adversely is not without its COM
forts-lts hopes-its usefulness. Why
should it be thus? What would the
human mind be without adversely!
The man or woman who broods over
disappointment, blightcd love or forsak-
en- hopes, knows little Of the true phi
losophy of human life. To certain
extent man seems to shape his own
course IN life, and society holds him re
sponsible for his acts. And yet
"There is destiny that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them as we will"
But it is of adversely we write, and
we would make the most of it. We
would not repine at every passing cloud,
or fall into fit of despair under an un-
expected shower. Adversely chastens,
brightens and refines the man or woman
who makes the proper application of it.
It sometimes suddenly takes the couceit
out ola man, and may knock some
sorrI sense into him. Young people
arc usually the most disturbed by it; the
Tilted lover is sometimes quite upset by
his rebuff for the time; but. in after life
if he makes good use Of his FIRST folly,
he will blaudly approach his early com
petitor, and with a smile upon his coun-
tenance exclaim-"You and were ouce
rivals for the fair hand of Melissa; We
both missed our reaching, and learned
to place different estimate upon our
selves, aud upon the different phases Of
human society"
There is true philosophy in this,
while there is nought but folly in the
act of whining over adverse fortune. II
does people good to run against rock
occasionally-even against the rock Of
adversely. 1t may shatter our craft, but
we must bind aud bolt it the frmer.
We all need stirring up, upon occasion,
mentally as well as physically. We
ought to test our anchorage 10 things
both temporal and spiritual; our faith
must be tested; our actions must be crit.
icised and we must be weighed b. tn,
standard of public opinion; and we in
turn must test the scales-see whether
they are IN perfect balance, and make
due allowance for prejudice or predic'
ton.
Full often doth it occur that the criti
cism that seems both severe and unjust
is the means, at last, of bringing about
an important reformation in the individ
ual. IT'S by this that we learn to SCI
ourselves as others see us, aud seeing
thus we are led to shun the rock or
which our vessel stranded. Full often
hath affection checked the proud hear
in its lofty aspiration, and given to
meekuess the place of pride. BY it we
learn our dependence one upon another
and the heart goes out in sympathy fol
tho object il once despised
And what we have here said Of indi.
viduRls, is also true of communities
churches, societies, nations. All learn
lessons of humility, patience and for
bearance by seeming adversely. All need
shaking up, bctlmes. The layman may
stir up the divine to the profit Of both
and vhen the common people have once
stirred up the church, il will run smooth
or afterwards. Monopolies, political par.
ties. financial rings, and combinations
every where, need an occasional wreck
upon the Rock of Adversely.
G. A. Hunt, United States Specia
! Commissioner for the ramoval of III,