The Dawson journal., 1884-03-13
Length and Breadth in Life

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onlStlc to each other its length
and Its breadth. BY length here
we mean, not duration Of time.
but the straight and far-reachinp
path which leads to ones own
special good, whether in the wav
OF education or employment, or
ambition or enterprise, or what
ever, in fact, is purely personal in
It's aims and intents. Breadth. on
the other hand, is that reaching
out of self to the family, to society
and to the world, including those
qualities of kindness, sympathy,
generosity and philanthropy,
which are usually summed up as
love to others.
LIZ anything is absolutely neces-
sary to make an individual valua-
BILE 1t Is that he should clearly re-
cognlze his own powers and mark
out his own path in the world.
When he finds out that whatever
he is to accomplish must be in one
direction, and accepting the dis
covery applies his energies reso-
lutely in that line, he has usually
laid the foundation of a useful
and happy life. II is not mere
ly that the division of labor has
created the need for specialists,
but that human nature must have
a definite end in view if its best
powers are to beputf forth. When
this is wanting; when life is suf-
fered to swing from one thing to
another, without distinct purpose;
when aims are so numerous that
they result in aimlessness, and
paths so broad that the goal is
forgotten-the character is weak,
the work is imperfect and the life
Of bus little value.
This duty of self-knowledge and
self-cultura, along some one def
mite line, should be impressed on
every young person. 1t is not
selfish; on the contrary, it is what
makes it possible to be of any
real good to others. For when
anyone is doing his own true work
III the best way, he is always bene-
fitting his fellow-men whether he
is conscious of it or not. Beyond
this, however, it is chiefly through
the discipline of this culture that
we come to understand others and
to know how to help them. One
who is vigorously bending himself
to his own life-duties IS in far
better position to give intelligent
aid to others in their struggles
than one who, having no purpose
of his own, devotes himself tc
forming or mending those of other
people. Few efforts are more I'm.
successful, few labors are more
unavailing than those of the re-
former who has not reformed him.
self, of the liberal giver who does
not pay his debts, of the man who
without any special direction il
life, is occupied in guiding and di
recting others.
On the other hand, length with
out breadth is equally imperfec
and unsatisfactory. There are
some people keen, intelligent, en-
ergetic, having a distinct aim il
lie and following it closely, bu
wrapped up in themselves, anC
regardless of others, except as
they can use them for their owl
benefit. Their experience seems
to afford them no opening into thu
lives of others; their struggles dc
not teach them how to help 9th
ers; their joys and SORROWS do no
enable them to sympathize Will
others. They are, in the words OF
a recent writer, bright and sharp
as needles, and as hard aud mar
row." This exclusive devotion t
self, however intense and eager
misses its aim. For as we canno-
truly help others, while neglect
ing our own proper business, Sc
we cannot do our own work in the
best way while neglecting our du
ties to other people. The expert
ences that we gain through sym
pathy react to make our own lives
richer and our own labors more
effective. There is in all kindly
intercourse an exchange that i.
beneficial on both sides. You'll
and age, riches and poverty, learn
ing and ignorance, sickness anC
health, each has its separate dis
cipline and It's special lesson, as
though that which comes to US di
rect will be the most vivid an(
strong, we may partake of all thu