Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-29
. For the SPECTATOR.
rlHn 20

This subject was discussed in rather
the form of an essay before the Mint
Spring Debating Club and a large atten-
dance of ladies by r. J. Dyche, Esq, Of
Folly Mills on the 18th inst. We.think
the subject good, the lecture and delivery
fine, and we'll worthy of a small space
ia your valuable columns. Owing to
the length. of the essay we can only give
brief sketch of it as follows: :aTo5 1lf
Mankind are creatures of interest.-
The diversity of the great human mind
leads US into vast speculation and con-
lecture to anticipate their various wishes.
Everybody has an aim no matter how
simple and obscure their individual
position may be. A wise God who creates
nothing in vain Intends them for some
purpose in his sublime ideas of iperfec.
ton and harmony of His eternal system.
"Life," says, Seneca, ''is voyage in
the progress of which we are perpetual
ly changing our scenes. We first leave
childhood behind US, then youth, then
FInanhood's ripened years, then the bet
ter and more pleasing part of old age"
Others compare it to river, rapid, ex-
haustless, wide. flowing on, bearing US
man in youth he leaves his home spot
less as the babbling brook, he travels on
down the mighty stream of life soon to
be lost in the busy concnurse. The OBJ
ject is steadily kept in view until his
boat rushes out into the ocean of eternity.
The flames of the stake have consumed
some, the iron hand of the inquisition
has crushed others, but the object of life,
true and pure, preserved to immortality,
and from under the throne the cry of
"HOw long, o Lord" is heard: their
influence is spread from the Rock
When the sight of worldly ambition is
predominant then the real object Of life
Is lost. Men who live to crafty a con-
templated vanity, to pervert land follow
their low appetites and passions and the
dictates of Sslffshness wherever they
may lead, are the ruin of mind; their
light may shine bright, but it is to lead
too manJ feet to destruction. Ambition
lis the predoMinating feature in the
mind of man, though the aim of some
be not as high as others. In the breast
Of the young Is the desire for fame. How
many thousands sink in the pursuit.
Many broken and disheartened give up
without another struggle. 1t is idleness
that cohquers the height of mind; tits
idleness that kills the happiness; its
idleness that benumbs the faculties it
IL SWdllOWS up ali Virtues duO Is Cuc Sell~
made sepulchre of living man. One
of the darkest transactions in the record
of man is his love for war Human
thought has naSer made such gigantic
efforts. o. when employed in scenes Of
buteAery. United he puts on the appear
sanoe of strength. He founds empires :;
he builds cities. Trace the track of
civilized man through the world and
you will find it covered with the wreck
of his hopes. You will find the true OBJ
ject of life is kept more strictly in view
among the less wealthy and among the
,nediocrity than those who occupy the.
position of rulers. Charity flows from
the heart in pure and ever-gushing
stream. On its bosom are smiles of vir-
tue, the lamp of faith, the watchword of
Hope for all humanity.
1t is our duty to do something toward
the true object of life be it but the
Widows mite. bs it but lamp in the
window ON winter night. 1t will guide
some poor weary traveller on the jour-
ney Of life. Be up and doing; be not
life dumb driven cattle, but heroes in
the strife. Let your light shine where
all can see and when the object of life is
completed you will look back upon the
footsteps of struggles with pride and to
eternity with Just knowledge of re-
ward.", It.