The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-07-07

roes, and that the days OF great men are
past; but some great writer truly says,
1.-THE greatest man is he who chooses the
right with invincible resolution who re-
sists the sorest temptations within and
without who bears the heaviest burdens
cheerfully; who is calmest in storms and
most cheerful under menace and frowns,
and whose reliance on truth, on virtue and
on God is most unfaltering" All there
are many brave men besides those whose
brows are crowned with the laurel wreath,
many noble heroes besides those who win
renown by conquest and sword they are
those whose influence is like that Of the
modest violet hidden in the cool, green
glade, lading the surrounding air with frag-
rance, and as the source of the rare per-
fume is unknown, so are the many effects
of the unknown hero's influence. Another
says that modern times with all their
boosted progress have never produced so
strong man as Samson, so meek man
as Moses, or so wise a man as Solomon,
and if it has not, perhaps it is because we
do not require such wonderful men.
We have reaped the benefits of SamsOn's
strength, of Moses meekness and of Solo
mons wisdom, and what more do we de-
sire? The experience of the past has
taught us to avoid the faults of others, and
to initiate what is worthy of imitation, their
courage and nobility, and the failures and
successes of past generations have all con-
duced to the promotion Of present power
and improvement. The past has gone, the
future is to come, and the present only Is
ours. and we must use it for ''weal or woe.
1t whispers to us that life is short, time is
fleeing, and we must live in the present.
Gone to-day is worth two to-morrows, says
the great philosopher, Franklin, and if we
would accomplish some deed, or perform
some action, we must act, and act to-day.
He who has delayed his work from day to
day, never yet startled the world by a great
production or invention. The poet has
said, ''every age bequeaths the next for her
itage, no lazy luxury or delight-but siren
uous labor for the right, and we must not
| idly fold our hands, but it must be ours to
cause the age in which we live, to surpass
its precedents, to take "Excelsior" for its
motto, and not to be content until it has
reached perfection, until many centuries
hence it may be considered the "Golden
Age" and to attain this, we ''must be wise
to-day; It's madness to defer" The same
refulgent sun shines to-day, as shone upon
mighty ancient cities now crumbling in the
dust, as shone upon mighty Rome, then
mistress of the world, now shorn of power
and beauty, wreck of the past; the same
bright blossoms toss their fragrance to the
passing breeze, as bloomed when the Span /
ish feet touched the shores of the New
World, and if this be true, let us cast no en- |
vious chances at the grave Ofthe Past, but be
happy in the present Let us catch the |
moments as they fly, and wing them with
kindly deeds and pleasant words With
an iron pen, let it be engraved upon our
hearts and memories, that every moment
which flies is lost, irretrievably lost, and
now while the sunshine of peace and pros
perity 'gladdens our country, should we not
with brave hearts and earnest willing hands
endeavor to improve and ennoble our pres
ent life? Let us remember that ''On and
on the stream of life is flowing, day by day
we ask not whittier going; yet, mid the suns
bright light, or through the darkened night
shorter is our lease of earth-life growing"
Then let us use to-day, for tomorrow sun
may shine upon dumb dead lips, and cold,
helpless hands that neyermore will lift the
burden of life.
With the poet, so let us live, that from
the Past we may obtain light for the Pres
ent, and from the Present, JOY that fate
nor time shall e'er destroy
Misty rises the future, uncertain, UNI
known, and who can lift that veil and read
the fate that awaits us? Youth, with san
guine hopes, awaits the wonderful ''Will
be-" Age, with tranquil eyes, gaZes upon
the approaching Future that is bearing him
slowly to the portals of the City where are
''many mansions What a merciful God
to veil the Future Would we ever be
| happy if we knew that sorrow and trouble
with dusky wings were fastening to cast
their gloomy shadows over us? To-day
man may have obtained the fruition Of his
hopes and efforts and is proud and happy;
tomorrow the wheel Of fortune may have
turned and he may stand amid the wrecks
Of what once was source of so much pride
and Joy How we long and watch and
wait for that beautiful tomorrow that
never comes! How many towering castles
We rear upon the hopes of tomorrow, only
to be shattered and crushed We know
not what the next scene of our life will be,
what dark tragedy may await us in that
hidden future perhaps the last great act in
the drama of mans life Who knows but
that "The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous
palaces the great globe itself, yea, all which
it inherit, shall dissolve and, like an in
substantial pageant faded, leave not rack
behind.
May our lives be 50 pure and 50 blame
less that we may not dread what lies before
us, and may go forth to meet the shadowy
Future without fear and with a brave heart +"