Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-04-05
INCENTIVES TO ACTION.

Youth, ardent and hopeful, while
preparing for active life, is wont to
become impatient and to long for an
active part in the din and clamor of
the conflict. He sees men marching
with gigantic strides from the re-
straining fetters of poverty to the
controlling power of wealth-from
the log-cabin and quiet farm life to
positions of trust and influence in
the busy political world Incentives
to earnest action fire his breast, and
like the champing waT-horse he would
fain despise the check, and madly
rush into the fray.
This enthusiasm is commenable
The impulses Of youth, if executed
with this zeal, would work reforms
such as the world has never known.
The regret is that the enthusiasm
which animates the youthful breast
so often dies out, failing to accom-
plish the deeds which it has planned.
AS man becomes older, each added
year seems to dampen his early az
dor. Years passed in active life
seem to blind him to the magnitude
Of growing evils rather than to in
crease the impressions and zeal of
his youth He becomes passive. too
willing to live in the easy-going man
ner of the world This may he a
laudable characteristic of AGE; yet
to those young and unacquaintcd
with the world it seems impossible
that the live, thoughtful man can ig-
more the calls to duty and remain
passive, when from every side arises
the cry for earnest workers in the
cause of reform.
Tell us that the enthusiasm OF
youth is folly, that the sober thought
and calmer Judgment Of maturer
yeals bring views more rational and
show the folly of striving with un-
conquerable ills. We would reply
that youth, though rash in judgment,
is not apt to detect error where none
exists and SO long as error does eX-
ist shall we declare him a fanatic
hero who fears not to stand alone, II
it need be, battling for the right. II
such is the spirit of the times that
fear of becoming unpopular hinders
action, then here let reform begin.
Though none of us may hope to
become a Longfellow or an Emmer
son, though we may not hope, ever
in our brightest hours, to leave he
hind us memories as tender and as
lasting as has Cooper, the philanthro
pist, yet let it be remembered tina
each has left a vacant place for some
one TO fill. True, the influence O
the poet and philosopher will endure
as long as American literature shall
anywhere be read; the influence O
the philanthropist can never die; yet
we need the living influence of sucl
men among US. 1t remains for some
one to take up the work which the.
began. Unless their places are filed
-society must decline.
There are great thoughts to think
great deeds to reform problems ye
unsolved which, by the aid of llgh
from the past, may yield to SOM
. persistent worker in the future. Our
may be the honor. We know no
the possibilities within us, nor ough
we to know them; the testimony OF
| men in all ages ought to confirm ou
! faith in the final triumph of Jealous
labor. None have succeeded with
out it; few have failed who hav
; worked with determination to sue
, ceed.. Success is conditional ye
t the conditions are within the reac
: of all. Every condition is an incen
, tive to action. What the world term
success, often proves most wretche'
failure. He only is in the highes
, degree successful who best cultivate
his talents and best improves his op
, portunities.
Nor should incentives to greatnes
[ be the only ones to lead US; tn