The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-06-16
In every community there are persons

In every community there are persons
who by the force of their intellect and en-
ergy--for without these n man accomplish
es very little-are, so to say, the ruling
spirits. We must all feel the power an in
telectual spirit yields. We must, if we
are not very obtuse indeed, and are gener-
GUS enough to admit it, realize that the
man of talent, provided he has resolution
enough to exercise the power indisputably
his rules. What influence, then, must
not talented man produce, whose powers
make themselves felt, sometimes through
hemisphere, sometimes through an entire
world What must his power be over one
or more individuals with whom he is
brought intimately in contact! What care
should such Il man practice, that in an I'M
guarded moment he does not influence the
young for evil.
We all 90 to an intelligent pcrson-be il
man or woman-for advice, listening TO
their opinions with believing ears Such
persons know everything, the young think,
and they will for that reason be entirely
guided by such an adviser. Who so belcv-
ing rs the young? As we grow toward the
age when the most of our beliefs melt into
! th;l air when we have reached the age
where no delusory beliefs can cling, o. then
must we not look back and think of the
advisers of our early days, how their ex-
amples and precepts have influenced our
| life A life that we can only live once;
a life that to every individual being is
everything; life which we one and all can
make good and useful by our actions; a life
which may carry sunshine into many
home, and brighten many heart to whom
the word home is unknown. 1t should be,
then, the task of all who influence to any
degree their fellow beings, to see that they
can never be reproached for advice wrongly
bestowed, for influence wrongly eXerted.
In our earliest days we are told by our
seniors, Wait until you are as old as l am,
and you will believe, think and judge diff
lerently." From our cradle we are inform
ed that Life is but an empty dream"
Those who have passed beyond the bright
season where "all that gitters" does seem
like the unalloyed gold, look with a sort of
contemptuous pity upon those whose life
seems to spread out fair before them, whose
future seems illumined with brightness,
whose hopes arc rose-cOlored.
All illusions must perish, that we know.
There are different ways in which they die.
One way we call the natural way, for ma
ture has ordained their death. They can
not give so much pain. But the other way,
the way they oftenest dic-when in the
midst of telef the veil is suddenly torn
from the eyes, and We crceive that that
which we took to be diamonds is but paste.
1t is left for those whose intellect governs
the lives Of others in a great measure, to
be careful that no false opinions, no false
beliefs mar the lives OF these. No one SO
fit for greatness us he whom God has gifted
highly. Who, making good use of his tai
ents, shall be guiding light, inviting 9th
ers to follow, as nearly as they may, in his
footsteps. To be reverenced by those who
come in contact with him. A pure intellect
ual man or woman who Will not he better
for having known them? People sometimes
hardly realize what influence they exert
OR they forget that their way of thinking
speaking and acting can affect others.
Very often the intellectual individual
does not know the power he possesses in so
great a degree, until he wakes suddenly,
as if from stupor, to find his opinions, his
examples, his actions have moulded The
heart and brain of one or more individuals.
Veal judge by comparison. Good, Better
Best. We all desire, if we do not all at
tain, the last. We can all be good, it is
given to q few to be great. Who, then, sc
honored by the young and old! To be be-
loved by all during lite, and mourned after
death has left nothing but the dust Of what
was once great and glorious soul