, 1880-02-28

IT'S PREVALENCE AND EFFECIS-
III fhs Editor Of Ihe Chicago Tf1p1tnk.

10 The Editor Of The Chicago 1s1ouHe-
CHICAGO, Feb. e5-Many thanks, Ivy Oak, for
those kind words: but feel that an entirely
1,nsclfsh person would be as hard to find rs one
that never told lie, now that the cherry-tTee
and hatchet theory has been exploded. We nre
all more or less selfish, according to the In
auenccs that surrounded us in our prenatal
existence, in our childhood, and those Years that
will denomlnato as tho lreanland of youth.
Where wc tind Il uuryelously selfish nature that
is forever graspng for popularity and wealth
to the exclusion of all principle, we may 20
back to tho period Of Inconsistencies for a
solution IF the problem such 4 nature involves.
selfshness, thus rooted and ,'e ,encourased cd
nn2s5 tre8Sh and eepanton
rs the tabled Old Man OF the Sea, unless super r.
human cxeruouS are put forth to unclasp It's
d %b are can No be noded fs 6
stunt watchfulness and attention, II VIC can oniy
be 1nade to acknowledge thnt they. are such.
The great trouble In reformation LES IN not
being able to observe the same prculiAritics III
our own natures that we are SO eager to con
demn in others. What seem to US TO be faults
smallest speclss when the shadows come stealing
across our own Threshold and the gnunt form
of condemnation confronts us with It's out
stretched arm and menacing attitude. +no+ ,.o
] neighbor's door viii take On the beautiful hue
Vt the rose and the delicious aroma OF the hya,
ciuth when he turns his attention to u.s. it is well
for us to let charity govern us IN our acts and
speech ut all times.
Could l. purely unself1sh person exist IN TINS
a:-e Of rush and ,shirl, and comnlodon, That per-
son might well be considered rs only step pc,
low the angels We arc ~ more or less welded
to self. With some. seltishness may pc confined
to the small. unnoticcable details of life. while
others, by their open uncharitab!encss and de-
sire to prosecute to the bitter end, make them
selves object Of distrust and scorn among the
constitute the truly great and good.
AS society now stands. what need constitute
but 4 tiny ripple on the surface of the vast kc1 M
Of life is made to expand into tnonstrous and
overwhelming billow By the ccnseless tossing OF
pebbles, in the brave cndeAvor to hit the quivcr-
ing mark and send it bruised and bleeding, down
amid the miro nnd slime Mt the bottom
It is an elegant pastime, this tossing OF stones
and watching the ripp'es rs they expand anu
roll gleefully away each one adding its mite tc
the growing proportions Of the sllrgfng DilloWs
Perhaps those who indulge in the pastiu1e may
some time become the quiyering mark, the
seductive charms oftho rose and hyncinth hav-
ing conquered prudence and wrought destruc-
ton and despair. Tossing pebbles will then
cease to be pleasure, viewed from the stand
point Of the prosecuted instead Of the pcrse-
cutor- !
Il boy will pin the cars Of a cat together and
scream with JOY on witnessing her contordons
of agony. but slight, pinch Of his own ear will
cause him to howl and dance beneath the torture,
although SO slight in comparison:
Thus in childhood we sec sclfishucss cropping
OUT anu, where. no guiding 0and IS puL loftn u
stay the onward dash OF tho bark among
the unyielding breakers. the impetus Is
sure to strengthen with the lapse Of
time until there is no safety for tho once gal-
liant craft. 1t is severe trial to place ourselves
in tho background and give the preference tt
those who will not appreciate tho kindness
especially when our dearest hopes are shattered
by the condesccnslOn. 1t may be hard task tt
give up IL coveted pleasure in order to place
food and clothing ut the disposal of the hungr,
and poorly clad; but, when it becomes an inl-
peratiye duty, VIC should steady our nerves fol
the OCCASION, and believe ourselves deeply fa.
vorcd by Providence in possessing the means o1
relieving suffering aud want Few persons are
equal to the emergency Of placing self in thu
background ut I'LL times, and SO again assert
that ulselnsh persons arc few and far between.
Since writing the above l have received aE
earnestly w.,rdel letter from Il young lady who
has been deprived of the advantages Of school,
and who desires the assistance of The Home il
taking lip :: course Of Studies that shall benefit
herthe most that she may the sooner be able tt
assume the burden Of life and become a usefu
and influential member Of society. It is moi
pec,lniary aid she wishes, hut suggestions an6
Mdylcc relative to Il thorough course of study
Will each Of the principal correspondents o1
The Home please give their ideas on this i'm.
port,lnt question, not only for her assistance
but for the vast number of learncrs who are toe
ti1nld to mike their wants known, but vii
eagerlr clutch ut the hints thus thrown out?
Let the ready pens of the witty grave, ant
gay be wielded III behalf Of tho learners in life:
school. ORLESA.