The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-11-06


The duty of using rightly whatever Of
wealth, or authority or ability we possess,
says the Philadelphia Ledger, is universally
admitted. No one now pretends that man
is justified in employing such things simply
for his own welfare or enjoyment on the
contrary, the responsibility that they bring
with Them, and the consequent duties they
involve, are frequently insisted on. But !
with regard to the impressions we receive,
the general sentiment is quite different.
They are supposed to be passlvely accepted,
with whatever Of pleasure or pain they oc-
coson, and if we show a sense Of satisfaction |
in the one case, and power Of lortitude in |
the other, we think we have satisfied all |
claims. Some persons, we know, receive
great deal more in this way than others, but |
that any greater burden Of obligation rests
upon them on this account, is not imagined. |
The power of receiving vivid and acute
| impressions is called sensiti iveness. The
heart that swells with delight at natures
grandeur, sublmity or beauty, and feels in
tensely the joy or su1erings of humanity,
and appreciates deicately the varied shades
Of character and disposition, we call sensi-
tive, and accord to it higher grad of being
than that which is callous and dnappreca-
tive. So far, however, we only recognize
passive state, faculty of receiving, not
power of doing. If these impressions are
not mingled with activity of soul. If they
are not vltalized by thought, and embodied
in the life, they cease to be of any value to
the character, and even lose the beauty
which we are in the habit of according to
them. For only that is truly beautiful
which either has within it the element
of growth or suggests vital energy as its
cause. The charm of nature is in her conti-
nual change and development; the charm
of art is in the continual suggestion Of the
living mind Of the artist, and the charm of
a sensitive nature consists in the activity
: with which it uses its impressions, convert
ing them by its own vitality into new direc-
tions of thought and service Perhaps no
t one ever evinced stronger or keener ap-
, peeciution of nature than the poet Words
r worth lie seems fairly TO bask in her
e beauty, and to surrender himself passively
to her influences. Yet had he been content
5 ed himself with this alone, and mearely re-
c joiced in his own sensitive nature, where
J, would have been all his inspiring and glad
S dening poetry, which, by its tender simpli-
c city and purity, has rejoieed so many hearts
e and exalted so many lives? 1t was just be-
) cause he brought all the forces of his mind
y to bear upon these impressions and then
= translated them to the world that they were
}, ANYTHING more than forgotten dream.
It is, however, chiefly our sympathetic
y feelings with human joy or sorrow that need
y the vital force of thought and action to
make them valuable or even lovely. There
is a great deal of sensitveness which is
Il simply selfish excitement, and which, in
10 stead of being source of pride, should ra-
ther be a cause of shame. Tears will bo
l. wept freely over a tale Of distress without
i any practical effort to relieve it being ever
ie thought Of, much less put into execution.
ie Feelings will thrill with admring sympa-
y thy on hearing of some noble deed of hero
< ism or sell-denial without any active desire
S to possess the same spirit or any real attempt
Ie to make the life more generous. Pain will
Is be keenly felt at some careless or unkind
y word, some decetful or unfriendly action
al some bitter or sarcastic criticism, without
as any lesson being learned of greater tender
Il, ness or charity in dealings with others. Ever
o1 religious emotions may be awakened, in
IN the form of fervid excitement or peaceful
reverie, without leading to any true devel
opment of the religious nature or any vita
growth of the religious life.
lis All this results from the widespread idei
n that there is nothing TO be done with on
" ~ impressions except passiyeiY to experience
~ them, that they involve no further duty ant
lc. carry with them no special responsibility
Never was there a greater or more fatal mis-
take, They are, on the contrary, the germ
mp Of all noble life aud vlrtuous sendeavor,givel
10 us TO nourish and develop. If we negleC
~ to do this, and sit contentedly enjoying tn
pleasure or enduring the pain they bring
est without realizing their meaning or vital
ice izng them by the wholesome air Of aetiv
endeavor, we do ourselves and the world
great injustice. The mere sentimental an
~, slothful indulgence Of feeling or emotio
always wears out even its own capacit,
.er. Just as a muscle or an organ of the bod
for that is never put to any use, contracts, los
power, and finally withers up, so the sens
us tiveness that does not quicken thought an
49, Imagination, that does not teach any lesso
or suggest any duty, gradually loses eve
eat its own power of impressibility. The ger
that might, under careful culture, hay
bloomed into rich beauty and fragrance,
IAN length dies, a victim 10 our neglect L
=. us then educate our impressions, devel,
I'M, our feelings, vitalize our emotions,
bringing them all into active service for Il
good of mankind. Each one has its ov
uho peculiar Lesson, which it will gently whi
per TO us il we listen attentiyely to It's voiS
Thus only can the true value Of a sensti
nature be realized and its full beauty draw
and forth.
tier. "
-Partisians delight in monstrosihes
ilor. various kinds, aud have been crowdiI
round one Of Chevels windows in the Pail