The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-07-20
FOR THE DEMOCRAT.
LOST OPPORTU NIT s..
A SERMON BY A LAYMAN.

"The saddest words of tongue or pen,
Are it might have been.'
The quotation is trite, and perhaps
threadbare, but the words teach o
lesson which many of Us alas! learn
too late, and which ws fully appre-
ciate only when their full s'gnih-
canoe recalls opportunities lost-days
gone by never to return; youth spent
in folly; energies wasted in frivolous
pursuit Of the ignus fatuus, pleas
ure; and money recklessly squan'
dered for the qualification or tastes
that debase and destroy all that is
noble in us. Experience, dearly
bought and oftentimes bitterly re-
pented, is not always sufficient to
teach US the lesson as it should be
learned, even when the experience is
our own; and when it is that Of an
other it is generally uuheeded and is
utterly powerless to restrain those
who are rushing headlong into the
same pitfalls. Precept is necessari-
~ weak when the repentance that
follows actual indulgence is seldom
sufficient to correct an evil habit.
The causes of the perversity OF
human nature and its proness to
evil, when it has been so well guard.
ed, seemingly so hedged in by good
influences, is a problem worthy Of
the deepest thought and most scar
ching enquiry on the part of every
man for himself. It will not answer
the purpose to leave the discussion
of the question entirely to the prea.
chers. They can deal with only gen.
eral results and give the answer in
general terms, while the particular
necessity is for individual enquiry.
All of the causes whatever they may
be, are scarcely present and infaen.
cling any given individual. With
those that do not particular y influ-
ence him, the individual has only a
philanthropic concern, but In those
that do Immediately affect him and
control his actions, each one Of US
is directly interested. lido not pro-
pose to pursue this inquiry any fur
ther than to make, as I have done
above the suggestion that many, II
not all, lost opportunities may be
attributed to the perversity of hu.
man nature, and that it is the duty
of each one Of US to study and over
come, the curses whatever they may
be, that make US perverse, and in the
end make Us mourn opportunities We
have lost. Over the temple Of the
Delphie Oracle, the Greeks could
find for inscription in that promi
nent place no more sage piece of ad
vice "Know Thyself"
| I think that perhaps the ablest
and certainly to me it was the most
impressive sermon I ever heard, was
from text that justified the discus
sion of the question, why the young
man would listen to and be guided
by the experience of their seniors'
Travelling the same road, bound TO,
the same goal, the young pressed or
falling victims to the same tempta
tions--becoming involved in thu
same misunderstanding their way
herc--fsllipg into the pitfalls there
striving, struggling, falling by thu
way side and reaching the end of thu
journey of life at last weary aDt
worn; and always unheeding thu
gravestones by the way side, ant
paying no attention TO the warning!
of those who had gone before ane
who would, if they could, have savel
them many a mile of weary trave
, and have pointed to them opportuni
ties in time to seize them, that a
last they have to mourn as irrevoca
bly, lost. It is the province and du
ty of age to teach the wisdom it ha
learned, and it is the folly Of you'll
that it will not heed the lesson.
I Opportunities do not always, in
deed they but seldom, repeat them
selves. Others may come, but tn
one that passes is gone never to re
turn. 1t is the part Of wisdom t,
seize and hold them while yet Their
,, is time. Folly says, however, wal
until tomorrow! Tomorrow itsel
may not come for us, and if its morl
should dawn ever so brightly it may
not bring the neglected opportunity
and even if it should bring 1t, ant
we should seize it then, We would b
, day behind time, sad the hatss
, that prompted US tc let the or o.
yesterday pass US pnheeded, ignore
than likely to let shat one of .o'lDot'
row slip by us. "Procrastiatlon IS
, the thief of 2ime." pc present
, only is ours. As we av.l ourselves purse YES
Of its opportunities, :, we nave s.e. tne
: lessons Of .he past, all! our future
be- govened and 'e will be called
upon hereafter to congratulate or con
! denim ourselves for our wisdom or
) our oily. ShNEA.
} THE followins are the arrivals at
, the Exchange Fptel for the week end
mo July ~: G. c. Weems. Enfield; J.
8 ca~pDeK Cheneyville; Mrs. A. p,
Dorsett, L.mourie; Miss Jennie Cruise,
Tramway; II. ?. Luckett, Rapides; Ma
tina. Erlica, Loyd's; VIM. G. Waters.
, Rspides; w. j. VIM, A. G. Hepburn.
G. H. Chamberlain, N. O. P. R.; r II
Hynson, Leon Klotz, G. NJ. Flower, +.
}. Sullivan, Saml w. Hill, H. NJ. R.a.
gear, Aiex'a.; Il. A. Riossat, Cotile;I.
A. Mcdonald, Evergreen; j. Y. Hud,
a0n Holm cuillo. InSa 90 n 1r~.-- e,