Smyrna times., 1876-08-09
The Seen and the Unseen.

|
different ways in which people judge of
one another, and the consequently differ
ent results at which they arrive Some
value their fellow-mcn wholly or mainly
for what they hurc Is he rich? is the
first query that arises in their thoughts or
escape their lips on forming new ac-
quaintance. What are his investments, |
his real estate, his capital, his style of |
| living? Or, how much power does he |
wield how much fame does he enjoy, how
much public applause does he receive |
| Upon the answers to such questions do |
they base their valuation of the man. Ac-
corCling to the amount of material good,
upon which he can lay his hand and say
this is mine," do they esteem him. This
is, perhaps the coarset measurement which
can be taken, but it is by no means the
least usual.
Another is that which accepts mans
actions as the sole criterion of his worth.
What has he accomplished is the ques-
ton. Has he built house or founded a
| city, or commanded an army, or written a
I book? Docs he succeed in his business,
E maintain his family, fill his place in
j. society, instruct the ignorant, help the
@ unfortunate Undoubtedly this is a much
e higher standpoint from which to view our
: fellow-men than the former. Possessions,
O however great arc outside of man, while
V his conduct forms most important part
:, of him. Effort, action, performance are
the evidences of internal power, the out
ward indications Of character. Noble
!, deeds, heroic acts, righteous dealings, pure
:, lives are not only lovely and admirable in
- themselves, they bear so strong testimony
% to the superiority of those who perform
10 them, that it is not strange that many
,o should regard them as the highest crown
5. Of human existence, and the final end OF
,e goodness and moral beauty.
il Yet there is something behind all these
a life finer and more powerful than that
re OF outward expression, which hints o.
III higher possibilities than any yet attained
or Everything external, however precious i
cs may be, is born of something superior t
10 itself. The most exquisite music tha
Ct ever enchanted the car, is but partly
10 successful effort Of genius to express villa
10 is in the soul. The majestic structure
st with all its imposing effects, originated
M first in the mind Of the architect. Tn
cd lOveliest picture ever painted on earth,
,r. less lovely than that picture III the artist
brcst from which it grew. We are al
or. conscious OF something within US ia
of superior TO our most strenuous effort:
ed Language, for example, is the channel b
,et which we convey thought to one anothsl
la. but does it yer adequately represent it
ct. Are we not always aware that our word
M fail to carry the exact shade Of our meaI
an ing? The sweetest poem is not so sweC
as the fancy of the poet who wrote
,c1 What true loveEMeycr found words thi
,,,s satisfied his hcartY What form Of worshi
,bo can ever faithfully depict the secret aspir
Mr. tions, the silent longings, the reverel
t;ro uplifting Of the soul? So, conduct is but
,r,s faint portrayal of character. 1t shoy
1or roughly in what direction our steps ten
or but not how far they have attained, st
rlv less to what they may attain. Character
,or q continual growth, it never stands sti
to "ohO00' 10 'i0 0"'""i" 0-> os''0iI Vi u
present stage of that growth. 1t on
shows one phase of development, whi
human nature is ever pressing rapidly fC
ward to the next.
and IL thlS DC 'rue' no" le'iceh' VIC Slo0
hot be of passing judgment on one anothC
What is in plain sight is as nothing
,;,,s what is hidden. We see mans sin,
fore we canuot see his remorse; we see
rom failures, but we cannot see his struggle
: Of we see his deeds, but we cannot SEQ
,rn aims; we see his actual, but we cam
ron see his ideal. This inner life of hopes al
ape. longings, of aspirations and emotions,
line thoughts and imaginings, is true and me
the real than the actual life of doing. If
- It could see, on the one hand, that which
I in wish and hope for, that which we strugl
a is and strive after, that which we love a
the honor; and, upon the other side, II
mn. which we actually accomplish, to whi
dsm should We pledge our loyalty-to whi
the should we be more closely allied? To
inis former, surely. Lowell truly says:
-, "The thing we long for, that we are
For one transcendent moment
-,: Not until we are able to pierce throu
-. that which is visible to that which is
seen; to look beneath actions to tn
springs and motives; to penetrate the o
ward expression and find that which sec
own to be expressed, are we fit to pronour
,lain upon the character of single individu
,ears Meantime we may all learn more char
He by the thought that, behind every act
rses goodness there is richer and purer id
vbilo ever struggling for expression and ne
don. quite attaining it; and behind every c.
,en,s duct which we disapprove lies a charac
,oval which perchance disowns and reponts o
The quite as much as we in our pride of sur
aslr iority could desire.--Ledger.
nger. :.
nam. "This, dear girls" said the wise lii
-' 4o.x:... ,,,:4b 10, ,Doraso1 ona If