Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-05-21
Eelf-R eiiancc.

! The habit of depending on others Is
m evidence Of weakness. With many
it is natural. From early childhood
there are those who al pear 10 need u
stronger person TO lean on. Like vines
that must cling to trees for support
some persons arc ever feeling after 4
stronger influence TO bear them up.
Whether this can lie overcome where it
Is inhereu. is Il ques ion. l. has been
argued that il cannoi And vet there
are eases whore under stress OF circum-
stances natures that before were weak
and y.elaing have become strong and
vigorous. II has often been remarked
that women GA shipboard rave shown
in time Oh distress iort!tnde aud cour-
age greater than t!iat OF strong men.
Ii thus seems Gear that this qualify
may be summoned when occasion de-
maads it. Can il be- eutiyAted for the
ordinary uses oi life?
Sslf-reiisncs is dependence OF. seii in
emergencies and amid all the duties
and struggles of life. Some idea of
what we are-tiia habit OF self-dcperd-
ence-is a preparation for this. And
in order 10 do this W. believe the more
RESPONSIBLE .ty children are made 10 as
sumo at home, Ike better for them.
For example y round OF dates may be
assigned. for Inc r guar ard correct
performance Of which they arc held re-
spousible. Tbs supro es that ti;ev he
not remin led oil those duties from day
l iav, but expected to think oi and at
lend to them. Ii may be the care OF The
room, the Sc ting apart Of certain hours
tor study. the looking after certain
chores. No matter what. re ponsibil-
iv is attached, and the child tlen left.
Ii careless, it is eviden; that il is weak
in a very important particular. And
education, along this lire, NAV be reg
ular and constant. 1t is, however, only
tue be rinn.ng.
In more advanced stage this ele-
mcnt assumes the exercise of judg-
ment. For a child to merely perform
routine service does not bring into play
facu ties which tend 10 self-rcliance.
As q rule sc f-reliaut persons are those
who have decided op Mons, and conf
dence in them. They thus act. Aud
Judgment must be exercised in order to
strengthen and grow. AS Il rule, The
hes. way to promote this il to compel
its exercise, and then aid by encourage
ing criticism. Fault-iinding criticism
is not as y rule good. 1t tends to cm.
barrass aud d scouragc. But by point
ing out errors with judicious praise
where deserved. and encouraging assn
RANGES. this quality may be strengthens
ed. We ememU u boy who for years
could not be taught to observe. Cen
sure, abuse, ridieuie and scorn only
confused and discouraged. One day
gentleman pointed out particulars O
certain objects in a pleasant, kind,
way. The dormant faculties wcr,
aroused in the boy, and his power 0
observation rapidly grew. So will
judgment. 1t is a faculty that can b,
cultivated and encouraged.
Bot all mental and even moral quail
tiles need to he encouraged. not driv
en-. These can be best promoted il
this way. A lout may be driven Il
manual labor. hut the int ligent nu
be encouraged. So with moral quail
ties. And self-reiiancc Is moral qual
: ity, based Oh y ceria n app"t citation o
our intellectual faculties. This qaalii,
may be so promoted that the possesso
snail be inlexioly tenacious in any pur
suit in life. And it is this self-tclian
tenaclty that reaches ultimate success
!, In many cases the difference in success
or failure is that of self-reliance an
tenacity in the promoter of an enter
; prise. And where possessed, 1t wi
override difficulties that appear insu,
.. mountablc 10 the weak. IL is n qualii
that m ~ well be cullvated.-H.. ale,
!, ptid Cal.