Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-18

dies IN the mum OF tno Nltyh tuv tinA ~
, the woodlands AK and the rush OF the
white winged barks upon the broad aud
traekless ocean; in the elang Of the snvili
the swirl scratching Of pen and pencil, the
. tinkling Of the milkman's bell and the
thunder of leather throated senator's.
Times only value in any point Of our
earthly sojourn, Is the opportunity II gives
for work, and our improvement or waste
Of ii is decided by how much or how little
work we do. Let time be properly en-
ployed by energetic labor, for every clock
tick Is . priceless boon, and our success
in life and cur happiness in eternity de-
ponds upon it.
England's great virgin Queen, as she
lay dying, walled: millions for an inch
of time but we should realize the sol
emn fact that every moment Of life is
worth just as much as any dying mo-
ment.
There is work for each and all Of us to
do; work that, be our lives long or short,
will require the diligent, faithful, earnest
employment of every flying moment of
our God-given time; work that may be
great and enduring, glorious to ourselves
and benefcent to our race il we will II 81.
In the vast storehouses Of the future there
are grander wonders than have ever vet
been unfolded in the past. Humanity S
magnificent march Of discovery is but
just begun. There are resplendent heights
of mental, moral and material develop
ment and attainment that the boldest
wing of human ambition or imagination,
aye, the strongest pinion Of radiant arch
angel has never yet scaled; and God, the
Omniscient and Omnipotent, alone can
toresee what transcendent triumphs in
science, art and sociology are in store for
us
The chariot of progress is to be driven
on until natures illimitable pharmaco-
poeia shall be explored, and every wound
shall have found its balm and every i'll
that flesh is heir TO its antidote and solace.
All the earth must be made radiant with
intelligence, peace and joy and be filed
with the glory of God and the happiness
of man, as the sea is filled with waters
and the armament radiant with stars.
Bringing these glorious things to pass,
turning these stupendous localities into
blissful realities, is the work that God has
IN a great measure devolved upon us, the
rising generation. To fit us for this great
life work is the object of all education,
and that we may perform it well, remem-
bering that in this call the honor lies,8
should be our constant endeavor Our
two grand maxims should be: "Time
flies" and Tabor conquers all things. ="
However faithfully and well we may dis
charge duty, however high we may
ascend in mere earthly achievements, it IS
all at last as naught compared with the
interests that pertain TO a world and life
eternal.
Ifthere were in all the things of earth
enough TO satisfy the cravings of an inn
mortal soul, Solomon, Judah's inspired
sovereign, sage and singer, would have
been a happy man. Famed throughout
the world and destined to be known to all
succeeding generations as 'the wise
man. Kings and Queens hanging enrap-
tured upon the incompatible wisdom and
sweetness Of his utterances; at peace with
all mankind. Rich until gold and silver.
because as stones in the streets of his
proud capital. Poet and philosopher.
whose songs and proverbs will 20 sound
ing down the ages till their musical echoes
are mingled with the melodies that float
from seraphie Tyres across the wide waves
Of eternity to come. Chiefest of poten-
tates and favorite of Jehovah, he had run
the whole gamut Of earth's glories, pomp,
riches and felicities. And yet, after It
all, bowed down in the dust of splendid
disappointment, disgust and despair, he
poured forth his whole soul in that bitter
wall which viii find an. echo in every
world weary heart till time and
human hearts shall be no more.
VANITY of vanities; all is vanity,
In much wisdom is muc h grief; and he
that increaseth knowledge increaseth sor-
row." And why all thi mighty agony
of disappointment and oh agrin2 Why was
this life failure so gigantic as to stand
after forty centuries Of human woes and
follies, gloomy monument of warning
to all the sons Of men2 Because. though
IN the early years his words were inspired.
and his labors were devoted TO the best
Interests of his country .as well as to the
services OF humanity, yet in the closing
years OF his life love Of self took possession
OF his nature, changing h is better instincts
TO contempt and hate for mankind, pro-
dueing as legitimate result that unsatis-
fed longing, mournfill wall of his tor
tured, egotistical soul; 'tall is vanity and
vexation of spirit" There are myriads
on myriads Of these ad life failures; these
toilers after vanity az I'd vexation of spirit
all around us, engr0 Ssed with the trifes
and baubles of lin and self, and alb
sorbed with the cares Of Lilliput land, etc
and needless of all ths,t is truly great and
noble. The merchant gives his strength
Of mind and body 10 his ledgers and bank
accounts; the student devotes his whole
life to musty, dusty books; the painter,
with trembling hand and aching eve
hangs over the canvas that is TO make him
bread and reputation; 1he mechanic, the
lawyer, the rag vender, the statesman. the
governor, all are ceaselessly. earnestly
toiling, twisting, planning, cfutching.
And If self and to-day be the only eonsid.
erations, what is il all for2 Pitiful vani.
ties, light as the thistle-dOwn, evanescent
as the glow upon the butterfly's wing.
Explore the whole wide realm Of human
knowledge, drink deeD of every earthly
fountain Of learning, and we cannot tell
why the violet is blue and its leaflets
green; why the rose is red and theIlily just
beside, watered by the same showers and
kissed by the same breezes and sunshine,
IS whrte. Let proud man soar upon the
wings Of science TO the highest heavens
let him weigh the world in
a balance, tame the f6)rked lightning.
and make them humble ministers of His
WILL search out every gem Of mysterious
love which the dark, unfathomed caves
Of ocean bear,p handle eclipses, stars,
comets, earthquakes and thunder storms,
as a child does his crepundia toys. Let
him make his mind a vast storehouse Of
all that has ever been discovered, or at
tained since Omnipotence set the universe
IN motion. And with enc fell stroke Of
levers finger on his BRAIN he clanks his
chains behind the bars of a maniac cell.
a Methuselah's lifetime of study, mid!
night lamps and pondelou tones will not
enable him 70 enter the lowest blue-b backed
spelling book class in eternity.
Let beautiful woman shine resplendent
IN all the gorgeous tins elry Of fashion, a
sylph in form, seraph in voice, and a
WON an in all true loveliness. One breath
OF = estilence sweeps past, all her radiant
pea uty vanishes as the sparkling dews be.
Tor the morning day sun.
Thus does jehovah mock the efforts Of
very one who labors for self and earth