The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-10-02
Nervous Force.

which exist between the physical and
nervous sA stems, besides being enforced
and illustrated by daily examples. Dis
guise it as We may, the conviction is
forced upon us that We are u nervous
people. There are many causes which
may account for this. The constant
change of circumstances, individual re-
spOnsibihty and irregular climatic condl-
tions are no doubt largely responsible ior
this condition of things. Besides this.
the political atmosphere of our Govern
ment is constantly changing. In lanes
where the tyrant tauuts III purple, where
Constitutions are never altered OF amend
ed, where the traditions bequeat he'd from
sire to son dominate all aspirators for a
newer and better order of things, and
where men spend their lives
Mastering the lawless science of our law,
That codeless myriad of precedent,
That wilderness of single instances,
there is not much opportunity tor the dis
play of any qualities except those mega
tive ones that sap the springs OF national
life and make mems spirits rest in idle
ness. But here, where every man. so to
speak, is law unto himself, wL,re old
forms are constantly changing. giving
place to the new, and where allegiance to
| parties is not permitted to interfere with
the recognized necessity for fresh me-
thods of government, the pace is one
which often tells and becomes noticeable,
not in deterioration of power, but in
| waste of those vital energies which
uous. The contemplation of great things
the thought of how we shall be able to
| accomplish them. the knowlege of huge
difficulties standing i'll our way, and how
| we can succeed in levelng them or rising
above them, inspire calmness and moder-
| alton: but it is the little aud compare
| lively insignificant things that, as rule,
we trouble ourselves SO much about and
that destroy our needed conservation of
energy.
1t is not intended by this to have it
centration of thought OF energy on any
particular subject, when that subject is
| worth thought or concentration, will
! hurt us. "Of what did your brother
| die ?'' was the question put to French
man, and the answer was: He died of
| having nothing to do" The old monks
who declared that labor is worship were
wise in their generation. Labor rightly
and judiciously applied sweetens lite ; it
is an antidote for many ills, panacea tor
many ailments; for. as Carlyle says: "He
that has done nothing has known moth
ing. Vain is it to sit scheming and plau-
sibly discoursing; no and be aoing, If
thy knowledge oe real, put it forth from
thee; grapple with real nature; try thy
theories there and see how they hold ont :.
Do one thing, for the first time in thy
life do a thing;a new light Will rise to
thee on the doing of all things whatso-
ever. Truly, bonndless significance
lies in work; whereby the humblest
craftsman comes to attain much which is
of indispensable use. but which he who is
of no craft. were he never SO high, runs
the risk of missing But the trouble
with us is that as the celebrated English
wit said OF his COUNT ymen, that they
took their pleasures sadly, SO we take
our work seriously, especially when We
are dealing with little things we putsuch
heavy 10 nd in our spiritual guns that
when we fire them off We are injured by
the recoil. We would aim cannon at a
mark which is only worthy of a pistol
shot.
The truth of the proverb that the child
is father to the man is seen i'll this con-
nection every day. The African baby
has about 1t preternatural solemnity.
and looks at every thing musingly and
wonderingly. The American baby, on
the other hand, is vociferous in all its ex-
pressions of joy and sorrow. 1t cries
more vigorously than any other; it breaks
it's toys with more enthusiasm; it kicks
against actual and ideal pricks more
strenuously, aud when the man usurps
it's place he fellows the same fashion with
adult toys. On the Stock Exchange he
worries because he sold out too soon or
too late; in the store he frets because the
price of merchandise has been affected by
some political struggle; in the pulpit he
chafes because his sermons are OF so
good as those that he preached last year;
in the study lie is worried because some
popular favor.
And in this constant waste OF nervous
force the man is la'g-ls aided oecaus #
the character of hls country. IrlS big
with resources. and he. is careless not
only of health but "1 money He does
not learn by expern ice, DIS mt II would i'll
some quiet ard easy g"irg common
wealth The failure OF to day instead of
giving him caution, only inspires him to
the performance ot SOM greater deed.
And so he draws on his reserve power
until at last. v hen his men, al notes have
gone to protest and he Is forced t. SIT
down and check his bal ,nces, il is to,
late to rrtJace his steps aud he tails int }
physical anu spiritual bankruptcy. No
alone are mel. guilty ut this; so are wo
men. They string thems. Ives up to con
cert pi ch; they are super'a'ive in every
thing; they exa9gerate tritl s; their
streams are raging .orrt ms; their mole
hills are noun -aiHs and tney ag-. aud
withcr before their time Toe rec Il sS-
ness with which all tread the pail OF
modern life is seen every dn;i it ! ligss
the farest hopes; 1t c ists sha 10 On |
the brightest lIndSc up; d unle = wis
dom and modera ion co u. 10 TIL. rescue |
il is certain to O. d in sorrow.
Clay, Webster and Calhoun.
From Ben: Periey Poore's New Book.
When Randolph, of Roanoke, was
about to fight Representative Eppes, of |
Virginia General Breckenridge undo rtook
to superintend his practice, and said to
Mr.. Crawford. of Georgia. who Was to De
his second on the held by all means
or far al