Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-01
SUNDAY READING.

that which il stern and severe and ex.
setting. This 10 true. with some qualifi-
cations. A msutal framework which Is
Justly constituted and made to progress
10 the ways wherein it must walk. which
grows and expands and acquires knowI-
edge of men and experience of motives
and wisdom of action will yield to the
mellowing. soothing influences Of time.
The mind which feeds upon itself and
shuts out the light of all worlds bnt its
own narrow one. this does not improve
with age, but becomes closer knit. more
repellant Of modifying influences and
harder and more difficult OF access.
Doctor Holland is nothing if not a
preacher. His earlier essays babe fair to
reveal him in later life stern, severe,
cramped old man, not attractive to gen.
tie eyes. and not tolerant of any but the
straigbtest and most exactiDg puritan
ism. But he has grown into healthier
aud sweeter mood as years have accumu-
lated and his labors have ligntened and
ripened. He has grown out Of the rather
over earnest preacher into the more
genial teacher. The hectic parson gives
way TO the bean,ins moralist. We find<
in Scribner for October a brief review OF
Gray's book on Darwinism. We dis.
cover a most welcome tolerant spirit
exhibited toward revolution" natural
selection" &c. 1t is literally admitted
that the so-called Darwinian theories
may no, be incompatible With the &C,
cepted Jewish theolcsy-the existence OF
a personal God. Besides this, We find
the good Doctor administering words OF
comfort to those timid, self-doubtinS
souls who are apprehensive. wavsring
and given . prey TO self accusations lest
thew fall short of their duties in not
taking an active part in the labors of the
religious vineyard. He comforts these
by telling them that each has his lot snd
| station in life; that there need be no
doubt Of the place and part each should
take: that they Who are fitted for public
life discover their own fitness; aud
that they who are gifted with the gift Of
effective talking or praying or teaching
will find their way to places where those
things are best to DE doEe. The Doctor
is right. He but proclaims the eternal
fitness Of things. But hes. of all. We
should get out of the shoals and away
| from tine stumbling places OF doubt.
| Better do your self.selected work imper-
fectly than not work at all. Do not stop
! in the midst Of your labor weakly &c ask
! ii Won are called to do this. Many q
| man who found il hard work to study
and master big words and knotty sep
teuces. many Q man close upon the verge
of constitutional stupidity has by work,
courage aud that fidelity which never lets
duty lag behind any unmanninS doubts.
mastered high place at the bar and in
| the forum, and commanded the lofty dig
mites of the bench. 1t is the courage
| which breaks through self doubts which
oftentimes wins tho highest praise.
There are fools who rush where angels
fear to tread; there is that almost idiotic
sel.-assumption which John Ptmnix
ailndes to when he says that "where i'm
pudeuce is wit It's folly to reply" but
even these flourish where selfdepreca.
lion. the hypocricy Of mental cowardice.
prevents any attempt to take an active
part in life. 1t is hard for one Of any
niceness of discrimination to say, but it
is more than half true that one had bet
ter be busy bungler than an idle critic
Who is called" to write? Who but he,
no nnatter through what absurdities and
crudities he labors, does write and, writ
ING, imparts useful information? Who
is called to preach? Who, indeed, bu,
| ne who "krows enough to know that
be holds within him a great hot truth
and that iis seed belongs in the fa!low
ground of human in'eilegence2 Do that
which good impulse directs. Coed
impulse is conscience. The question
OF taste is Of much importance. but it is
secondary. No mans modesty should
prevent his attempting to save anothor's
life. Whom great stone column was erect
, ing in Rome the edict went forth that
| any man who spoke loud word while
| the critical work was going on should
suffer death. But q mechanic saw q
catastrophe imminent and he cried ont
| with loud voice, "Wet the ropes!'
| The sudden injunction was needed and
a crisis was averted. There are no hui
man lettering strings strong enough to
hold back the strong heart of man from
his duty and his destiny. We must all
make mistakes. Many of us are far
better employed in the less conspicuous
places than in the front ranks; silence
is ofteptimes better than speech; and