Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-26
TEE USES OF ADVERsErY


In the day Of adversely, consider. Ecclesiastes,
Z, xiv.
In The early days of Rome, when glad
iators used to fight in the open theater in
Campus Martius, schools were estab-
lished to train men for these struggles
where life was the reward Of the victor
and death the doom of the vanquished.
It's said the trainers of these men were
in the habit of pressing the leaves of the
yellow fennel in their drink, that its bit
terness might give them increased
strength and vigoT. This bitter plant
was also supposed to be capable of restor-
ing lost sight, and was freely used by
those who sought for light, OF strength.
And when the strife was over the con-
queror was crowned with a wreath of
fennel leaves.
Lycurgus also taught the Spartans
that the endurance of hardships and. trials
was the surest way to secure nation Of
warriors The wisdom of his teachings
was well proved by The battle of Their
m0pyl8, where three hundred Spartans
held at bay the Persian army of more
than d million
In the great battle OF life, the bitter
waters Of adversely are as necessary to
give life and strength to the combatants,
as was the juice of the fennel to the
ancient gladiator; and trials and self sac
mice are needed to teach stern hardihoOd
now as in the old days of Sparta. At
the beginning of the Civil war when
Lincoln called for troops, the crack regi-
ments of the North obeyed the call and
hurried on to Washington. How con-
fdent these play soldiers were of victory,
as, with banners flying, drums beating,
and cannons firing, and all the ghttering
trappIngs of war, they went to save the
Union. When those regiments returned
after five years. service, having borne the
hardships and sufferings of camp and
field and prison, leaving some of their
dead on twenty battle fields, how differ
ent their appearance and their worth as
soldiers, as with tattered flags and tarn-
ished uniforms they filed past for review.
They had suffered, and struggled and
conquered. So in the battle of life, hard
ships AID trials prepare the soldier to
gain the victory. They give him
nobler strength more enduring courage
'Adversity furnishes the clear light III
which mans virtues shine the bright
est''-said Dlderot. Adversely is also the
school in which these virtues are taught.
1t is almost impossible for a person, who
has never felt the stings of poverty, to
appreciate the pangs OF hunger,
thirst and cold. When q cour-
tier told Queen Marie Antoinette
that the peasants had no black bread she
replied "ht them get white bread then"
How can person "weep with those who
weep if his eyes are unused to tears?
How can one sympathize with griefs of
which he knows nothing.
Adversely, like furnace heats, burns
away the base alloy and leaves only the
pure gold of the character. The grand
est, purest, and noblest lives ever lived
i'm this world have been consecrated by
adversely. Christ the great exemplar was
thus made perfect. Another Of the uses
of adversely is that it teaches self-denial,
and, when a man has learned that, he
has learned one Of the hardest lessons of
life 1t also teaches tenderness and SYM
patty. 1t is the bitter waters only
which impart these virtues. Across the
graves of our own dead, we can see the
graves of others, and from the unavail-
ing sorrow and regret which fills our own
hearts, we can sympathize with them. If
God has not set the desolate in our fami-
~, how can we appreciate other darken-
ed homes? Sorrow and bereavement, like
the leaves of the fennel are exceeding
bitter, but pressed in the cup Of life they
give light and strength,
''Take courage soul, nor hold thy strength
in vain.
In patience take the step God sets for thee.
Beyond the Alpine SUBMITS of great pain,
Iieth thy Italy"