The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-11
Cur @liu.
MAKE.sH1Frs IN LIFE.

MAkE-SHIFTs IN LIFE.
It would be curious and instructive
exercise for any one inclined to self-analy-
sis to trace what proportion Of his life has
been devoted to make-shifts, that is, to fol-
lowing some temporary line Of conduct
which he by no means defends or contem-
plates asa permanent habit, but which he
persuades himself is justified by present ne
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 and worthy action. But
meantime sudden exigeneies press US un-
expected emergencies arise, and strong
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-shifts are Of such constant oc-
currence 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
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 no. 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 imperious demands, each
bringing with it the conviction that it will
never be repeated. Increasing in frequen-
cy, with the encouragement they receive,
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 a
bankrupt. The love of gain takes hold Of
man, and he resolves to pinch at all cor
nors, until he acquires a given sum. He
does not defend stinginess it is, he thinks,
but Temporary make-shift for a special
purpose. But when he has succeeded in
accommodating 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, aud for gain
he continues to sacrifice comfort, friends,
and perchancc integrity itself,
So with conviyial excuses. They begin
always as exceptions The young man
spurns the idea of his ever becoming a
drunkard, gambler, or asensualist Only
on rare occasions does he intend to indulge
his lower nature, when some exigency oc-
ours or good fellowship allures. 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 benevolent en-.
terprise, all have place in his system.
But gradually some one of these objects
swells in his regard to the d,triment Of tn
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 of 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 10 poll.
tics so 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
aud 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 filled 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 q
pressing work, or acquire larger opportu-
mites, then they viii take their places in
life as worthy, honorable, useful men and
women, conquering the evils to which they
now suecumb, and practising the virtues
they now neglect, Meantime, until that
happy hour arrives, life is but a make-shift
a time to be passed over and forgotten, a
period in which tits 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 viii strenuously avoid. Never
was there more pernicious error. The
ignis fatpus that they are following will
clude them till life itself be spent. The
only future that can ever be known is thai
which we are constructing out Of the pres
emit 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 cling
to our whole existence Byron well SAYS
"The best Of prophets Of the future is the
past" Let us then abolish all make-shifts
and bring every part Of our present actua
life into the closest sympathy with oul
highest ideal. The character thus formt
will be no patchwork of systems and az