River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-11-09
ADVERSELY.


has wrecked many fast-sailing craft,
and scattered hope and promise in
broken fragments over both deck
and cabin. And yet that very rock
has been the mariners guide from the
early dawn of mans existence, 1t is
seen in the distance, even with the
naked eye-history points to tex
perience rehearses sad tales concern
ing it. and the very foot-lights of our
pathway foreshadow it.
Adversely And what is it9 1t is
a certain something, real in character,
yet intangible; it is a something
which is supposed to oppose the sue
cess or desire of the Individual; an
event, or series of events attended
with severe trials or misfortunes an
mforeseen,yeta always visible calamity,
or affection, deserved or undeserved !;
distress of mind, of body, or OF both.
swell said, adversely" Yes adver-
sity; and adversely is not without it's
comforts--its hopes--its usefulness.
Why should lot be thus What would
the human mind be without adversely 2
The man or woman who broods over
disappointment, blighted love or for
saken hopes, knows little of the true
philosophy of human life. To a GER
tain extent man seems to shape his
own course in life, and society holds
him responsible for his own acts. And
yet
There is a destiny that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them as we will"
But it is of adversely that 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 unexpected shower. Adversely
chastens, brightens and refnes the
man or woman who makes the proper
application of it. 1t sometimes sud-
denly takes the conceit out of man,
and may knock some sound sense into
him. Young people are 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 blandly approach his early COM
petitor, and with smile upon his
countenance exclaim-"You and |
were once rivals for the fair hand of
Melissa; we both missed our reaching,
and learned to place different esti-
mate upon ourselves, and upon the
different phases of human society,""
There is true philosophy in this,
while there is nOught but folly in the
act of winning over adverse fortune.
1t does people good to run against
rock occasiOnally-even against the
rock of adversely. 1t may shatter our
craft, but we must bind and bolt it
the firmer. We all need stirring up,
upon occasion, mentally as we'll as
physically. Wrought to test our anch-
orage in things both temporal and
spiritual; our faith must be tested
our actions must be criticised and we
must be weighed by the standard of
public opinion; and we in turn must
test the scales-see whether they are
in perfect balance, and make due al
lowance for prejudice or prediction.
Full often doth it occur that the
criticism that seems both severe and
unjust, is the means, at least, of
bringing abotu an important reforma-
ton in the individual. 'TiS by this
that we learn to see ourselves us 9TH
ers see US, and seeing thus we are led
TO shun the rock on which our vessel
stranded. Full often hath affection
checked the proud heart in its lofty
aspiration, and given to meekness the
place of pride. BY it we learn our de-
pendenee one upon another, and the
heart goes out in sympathy for the OBJ
ject it once despised.
And what we have here said of indi-
viduals, is also true of communities,
churches, societies and nations. All
learn lessons of humility, patience and
forbearanee by seeming diversity.
All need shaking up, betimes. The
layman may stir up the divine to the
profit of both, and when the common
people have once stirred up the church.
it will run smoother afterwards. Mo-
nopolies, political parties, financial
rings, and combinations every where,
need an occasional wreck upon the Rock
of Adversely.