The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-24
A REVERE.
indianapolis Journal.


Written for the indianapolis Journal.
Dr. Talmage says: 1.-THE land is full of pro-
phets, and have as much right as any of them
to prophesy." The truth of his statement we
accept without argument and grant the right Of
way" to one and all who may choose to enlighten
the world in the line of prophecy. The same
principle applies to other things for long ago it
was written that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
Clearly then, in this pursuit" its ours to pro-
phesy, it is ours to work, it is ours to dream;
and should this trio fail to bring US happiness
then somebody is to blame-most likely our
selves. For my part I'll let DIR. Talmage do my
share of prophesying. I've more confidence in
him than myself in that direction Most any
one can take up my work, but | prefer
to do my own dreaming aud for an
hour at least permit me to dream
on paper. 'We are such stuff as dreams are
made of" was not spoken of the visions we most
enjoy, so, like the rest of mankind | stop short
of the full quotation, giving only that portion
which best suits my purpose. The dreams that
come to us in ftful slumber are not always
pleasant, for we have no control over these
fanciful and ofttimes painful scenes, but the
exquisite pictures-the creatures of our own
imagination-our day Dreams belong to US, and
it is our privilege, in fact, our duty, to enjoy
them. We may not all be builders of 'wood and
stone" but we may all, both great and small,
build for ourselves beautiful castles in the air;
build and rebuild and no one dare modest or
make US afraid. 1t is our 'inalienable right"
But here comes matter-of-fact body and says,
Away with your dreaming; that never accom-
plished anything" 1 pity the poor ''body,"
think of the old adage "All work and no play,
makes Jack a dull boy" and go on with my
dreaming
Who in all the world ever achieved even
degree Of greatness, who did not first conceive
and picture in the mind the royal road. The
structure being reared and furnished with all the
attributes of success, the builder, the dreamer
one day knocks at the door, walks in and reigns
supreme. 1t is his, and the seal to his right of
property bears on one side the impress work,
on the other dreams"
No matter how much we admire the genius of
the great poet we do not believe the doctrine
that people either ''born great or have great
ness thrust upon them;" but do believe most
earnestly that If such distinction is ever en-
joyed it mustneeds be achieved. The only question
how to do it. Again someone says what is the
use building castles only to see them tumble to
the ground, just as you are ready to take posses
sion; wrecked at your feet when hopes were
highest. Only this. If your building fell it was
best it should, for, rest assured, there was some
thing wrong about the foundation 1t was
built upon the sand. Be thankful the crash
came before you entered; in 1.-THE future you will
be more careful.
Oh! you need not tell me, I know it already;
how you have built and manned strong ships,
but they never came back from their trial trip
You thought them so secure, but the great mael-
strom of doubt and despair swallowed them up,
even in sight of the harbor InstineGvely your
hand pressed your left side; the agony of that
heart cry you wanted to keep back. Yet you
did not give up! Your good angel whispered yet
again you must try. and, from the moldering
ruins of castles and dreams there rose a perma-
nent structure grand in its richness and beauty;
for all the years it had beer going up silently
without the sound of hammer axe or any tool
OF iron. Somehow you feel more restful than
before for you see in the castle the polished
gems saved from other wrecks, and musing it
all over you softly repeat the three-fold name of
the builder. faith, love- endurance!
six months in quaint old farm house, over
Swallowed by elms," gave to the world Donald G.
Mitchells best work. still, we doubt not, the pic
ture, the real essence of Dream Life" had been
drifting to and fro in his mind for months, per-
haps years. How glad we are it finally drifted
into print.
1t is grand thing to be genius" and yet
profound thinker has said, even genius can
not catch the secrets of character above ITSELF
and that our Hottest conceptions only reveal the
highest possibilities of our own nature" Only
think of it, the acme, the grandest possibilities
of each soul commensurate with the Hottest con-
ceptions of that SOUL True, we cannot all have
the mind of Mitchell" and we may likewise
fall far short of a Dream Life" that will be
honored even to the third and fourth edition;
but if we have not the ten talents let us hold fast
to that which we have. If we make safe III
vestment the interest may one day outrank the
principal.
There must have been an inspiration lowering
around and about that QUAINT old farm house
under the elms' 1t makes one think of the
spreading chestnut tree where the Village
smithy stands" so beautifully portrayed by Mr.
Longfellow Aye. it brings to mind another
farm house in the long ago. 1.-THE orchard, the
meadow, the deep tangled wildwood" pass in
review before me, and every loved spot which
my infancy knew" A drink from that "Old
Oaken Bucket would tonight seem like the
elixir of life. The last vestige of these familiar
scenes have been swept away; but the hallowed
memories are permanent dodgers in the 'castle"
which year by year is nearing it's completion.
But, bark! Is it possible that I've been so
long dreaming! Can it be that clock is right
and the hour II? / shiver, for the fire has
burned low in the CRATE leaving little else save
ashes. "Ik Marvel SAYS ''ashes signify DESC
lation, but with the mercury at zero it signifies
to me cold feet tonight headache tomorrow.
WoRTHINGToN, Jan. q. nj.