Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-11-28
Il DON'T CARE
BY REV. Z. E. UNDERWOOD, MT. PLEASANT,
OHIO.

BY REV. L. E. UNDERWOOD, MT. PLEASANT,
OHIO.
Perhaps there are no words ia the
English language, which are Ia more
general use than these. They may be
heard from the lips of old and young
OF every nationality and creed. And
yet with what little thought, and, at
the same time, wonderful meaning.
are they used? Whether they come
from the lips of prattling childhood,
sober manhood, or tOttering old age.
their use is TO be deplored. Little do
those who make use of these words.
think OF the vast meaning which
they convey When such spirit seiz-
es person, he Is in q dangerous posi-
ton, and is on the sure path to ruin
and crime. 1t is this spirit of "don't
carev which causes the youth TO take
his first glass, the foundation of
his ruin:which causes the thief to start
in search of his midnight plund, r:
which gives the highwayman courage
to cry:"Your money or your life;"and,
which, nerves the arm of The assas.
sin TO the accomplishment OF his
bloody deeds. Search history over,
and 1t will be found that the most
treacherous and diabolical deeds re-
corded on her pages, had their foun-
dation in spirit of "don't care"
1t was this which led that thurman
warrior, he great Alexander, to
move on from one field OF blood unto
another until the whole then, I'M
known world had yielded to his am
billion. He cared not even though the
sweep Of his mighty army should
carry with 1t pestilence, famine, car
mage and death--his great desire
was TO crafty an Unsuitable ambition
and he cared not what was sacrificed
to accomplish his bloody ends. Take
the history OF the great French mil
itary leader, Napoleon BOnaparte, and
1T can readily be seen that the height
OF his ambition was for power and
military glory. and that he cared not
even though the wives and mothers
OF the noble French sOldiery whose
lives had been sacrificed to his am
bition, should. at one time, gather a.
round him.and with fearful eyes and
heavy hearts, vainIy demand of him
that their husbands and sons be re-
stored to them. and thus we might
cite numerous historical instance OF
how this spirit has controlled mems
passion, and with what disastrous
ana dreadful effects. But coming to
the general affairs OF life, we are con-
1ronied by the same stern truths Of
the dangers of spirit which does not
care. We will observe that those who
make life failure, and whose record
Is a blot or blank. are those persons
who don't care. They have no cares
as to their position in life, no cares
whether they are ciphers or figures
IN the community in which they live,
no cares az to their future destiny.
They do not care even though the
poets words are doubly true, ihat,-
'The tissues of the Life to be,
We weave with colors all our own;
And Ia the field of Destiny
We reap as we hav6 sown."
1t is this spirit which fills this world
with so many trifling, idle, worthless
people, who do not seem 10 realize
that their success in life can only
come from their own honest exertions.
1t Ia this which is nursing our ga
looms, filling our jails, surrounding
our se5, supplying our pen
itentiaries, and feeding our gallOws-
The person who don't care"is dan
ger to himself. danger to society,
and danger to humanity. Ofall,
persons to be pitied, Stunned and alb
horred, surely, none are more worthy
of such than those careless, indifier-
ent persons who seem to think that
the world owes them living wheth-
er they work for it or not. To such
persons, Scott's lines may be very fit
tingly applied, that they
"Shall GO down
To the vile dust, whence they sprung,
Unwept, unhonored and unsung".
4. Many of what might otherwise have
been bright n'eliecIs or great geniu
ses, have been hopelessly crippled
anu forever blighted by this most de-
testable spirit of II don't care" Let,
then, the rising youth be endowed
with the spirit Of care. and perserver-
anee; let him be enthused by the hope
of the rewards Of virtue; let him be
encouraged With the glowing pros
pects OF recognition of every true
and righteous endeavOr, and the fu-
ture will find the ranks CT those who
DO care. Increased; and honesty, in
,e!lectupiity morality and religion,
will have received new impetus TO
move forward,