The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-10-17
Ri.ing d Lifs.

kind probably none Is more universal and
intense than that Of rising in life Iu this
country especially, where no barrier exists
to any outward promotion, where each one
has full liberty to carve his own path to
any goal where his abilities can take him,
il is emphatically the great popular cray-
ing, Every parent desires it for his chill
drcn, every youth yearns for it for himself
When we hear of "rising young man" a
feeling Of respect and approval is at once
engendered, while nm emotion Of pity,
strongly tinctured with contempt, involun-
tariy arises towards one Of whom it is said
she has many excellent qualities, but he
will never rise in the world"
This is all right and as it should be, pro-
vided only that we construe the meaning
of the phrase correctly. Unfortunately,
however, 1t is one of those ambiguous ex-
pressions which mean many different
things, according to the mind Of him who
uses it. To some, rising in life means pre-
eminently the acquisition of property, the
being lifted from the necessity of labor,
the continual addition of new investments,
the gradual increase Of comforts and luxu-
ries. They gauge young mans ascent
in life accurately by his income, and cal
culate to fraction the elevation he has
attained by the state Of his finances. Or
if these cannot be ascertained they form
copjectures of the same, based upon his
style of living and expenditures. Others
judge Of this rise in life by the social rank
that is attained. One who pushes his
way into rich and fashionable circles, who
is found mingling with his superiors in
wealth, station and elegance, who is, per-
haps, upon easy and familiar terms with
those who look down with scorn upon ais
parents for their plainness Of speech and
attire, is esteemed "a rising young man"
and honored accordingly. Others again
measure this elevation entirely by the po-
sitiou held in popular esteem on the sue
cess attained in special calling. The
prosperous man Of business, the successful
author, the popular orator, the influential
politician, those who have iu any way dis
tingiished themselves and gained name
among men, and those alone have, in their
esteem, risen in life.
There is enough truth in all these opin-
ions to mislead the unwary. 1t is true
that to become rich or Influential, or pop
ular or successful, certain force Of char
acter is needful, which is in itself highly
honorable, and we do well to commend it
wherever its effects are man ifest But we
believe that 'rising in life,' in its full
sense, while 1t may and often does include
these outward successes, yet comprehends
far more. 1t is not simply release from
toll, change Of condition, struggle for
rank or power or influence, an ambitious
straining for fame or applause, however
successful Its source is far deeper, its
outlook far wider, its ascent far higher.
1t is rather the gradual growth, develop
ment and improvement Of all our faculties
and powers, the energy Of the highest
principles, the continual triumph of the
better over the worse, Of truth over error,
Of right over wrong. As bird cannot
truly be said to rise in the air when sent
upward by foreign force, SO no outward
circumstances, however flattering, eau ever
cause US truly to "rise In iife" If we
ever really do this, it must be by voluntary
energy, by an inward force that nothing
external can either promote or retard.
To rise implies constant ascent from
lower to higher; to rise in ife, then, must
mean a continual upward tending from
the lowest to the highest life. Is this,
then, from poverty to wealth, from obscu-
rity to fame, from simplicity to luxury and
fashion? ? Is it not rather from childishness
to manliness, from weakness to strength,
from timidity to courage. from passion to
principle, from sensuality to purity, from
mental vacancy to earnest thought, from
irresolution to forceful purpose? Life in
Its highest sense Is not the accident Of
birth, circumstances and death; they are
merely the husks that contain the seed.
The life Of plant is the vital force which
nourishes and expands the germ, causing
it to develop into strength Of stem aud
beauty of foliage. So our true life is that
vitality of thought, feeling aud purpose
that works silently indeed, but with tre-
mendous power, developing the whole ma
ture, and controlling its activities. It's
fulness would involve the utmost perfection
of health, in body and in spirit, the utmost
activity of every faculty, the most loving
obedience to all the laws Of our being
IL may be said that II Is impossible 70
discover whether any one is rising in life
50 far removed from outward view. But
just as surely as the plant gives token of
its vitality, by its healthy growth, plenti-
full foliage, brilliant flower or rich fruit, so
the man or woman who is rising in true
| life win show it in every hour Of sponta-
neous action. They may or may not rise
in property, inaience and station, but If,
in their dealings with their fellow-men,
they are honorable and Just, helpful and
generous, If they are temperate in their
purposes, If they pursue truth for its own
sake, and find in virtue its own reward,
then may we know that, whether rich or
poor, famous or unknown, influential or
obscure, they are arising in life" in the