Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-08-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
"To-Morrow." /"

Tile above was the subject of an
Grafton at the recent commencement
of the Granville (Ohio) Female Col
lege, by Miss Belle McGarry, of Ur-
bana, a young lady who has num-
Der of relatives and friends in our
county. We append her production
below:
A mysterious, unknown guest,
whose coming is anticipated by ali the
world, issilcntiy, but swiftly travelling
towards us, and ere the day shall close
will stand, with mufiled face, upon
our threshold. The great mass of ca
ger, r,unsatisfied humanity expects only
good from the future. To the laugh
ing child, the young man or woman
just leaving college, the man of busi-
ness, the wearied mother, the invalid,
the prisoner, and to all it promises the
fultillment of their desires. 1t is to
the young that the promises of the flu
ture are the largest and fairest. Youth
never dreams of failures. The illusive
nature of many of Tomorrow prom
ises is learned only with the years.
Evangeline seeking her lost lover has
more than one counterpart in human
history. The influence of hope upon
the human mind is universally recog-
nized. Man will, must hope, even
against hope. If he could not he
would give up the fierce battle of life
before it had fairly begun. There are
indeed, cases where men worn out or
born down by the weight of their sins,
have lost all hope. They are truly
pitiable objects. Many of the inmates
of n States prison present sad exam
pies of men who have no hope. But
there is a danger as we'll rs a blessing
in this anticipation of tomorrow. II
may prove to be the thief that robs us
of to-day. Each fccting hour leaves
its impress stamped upon the heart.
He who dreams away the present in
vague hope of a future God, is pre-
pairing for himself bitter disappoint-
nent. Nations, rs well as men, have
visions of future greatness and glory.
If the Pessimist is right, the nations
of the present are doomed to an early
fall. Wars, communism, dynamite,
oppression and crime indicate rapid
advance in process of disintegratioh
that must speedily produce a rcvolu-
tion of the whole social and political
fabric. Nations, like individuals, it
is claimed, pass through the stages of
childhood, manhood and age. Such
nations, they say, as England and
Anarioo have otthd E1t1 oIr.r, =, q 80
son and must soon pass into that of
decrepitude and old age. But we are
not forced TO accept this conclusion.
Civilization is more than growth, n
result of experience. The principles
of Christianity enter into the civiliza-
tiOn of all modern nations. Chris
tianity has given them life and vigor
possessed by no ancient nation, be-
cause it has elevated and improved
the condition of the masses. If I've
keep our hold on the spiritual we need
not fear corruption of the social and
political life, and consequent death.
Hope for this life, as we have seen, is
a boon to man; a greater gift is the
hope of immortality. Earthly hopes
are Elusive. Hope in Immortality
cannot mislead us.
What a strain of sadness there is
in all of George EIliot's bookst t Be
good" she says, +" be noble, be un-
selfish, work for the world, live in
your higher, not in your lower ma
ture, !" and you shall have, what? She
does not know. AS far as she can see
only an end of life and thought and
soul together in the grave. a great
er than she, who enjoins as high a de-
gree of self renunciation, and as lofty
aims, said, also. 'I give unto YOU
eternal life" and the promise of that
eternal tomorrow is like star in the
darkness of life's night.
BELLE McGARRY.