Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-06
ar these imaginary lines are good.

far these imaginary lines are good.
But something far better, far manlier,
is to have the firmnesS to draw our own
lines at our own times. 1t is so peculiarly
personal matter that we can we'll afford
to let the World have its lines and we
have our own. If you agree with me, then
your own line is drawn at To-day and
Every Day. II a man cannot enter on a
new life every day, he can unquestionably
enter on at least newer life every day. It
must be barren and unfruitful mind so
which something-good or evils not
added every day, to make it that much
newer You know this yourself. You
have seen healthy, pure minded boys start
cut in life an2 you have met them later
with minds SO darned with vice here, and
patched with sin there, that you hardly
recognized them. That transfer nation was
not done in a day. You have seen boys
that you knew at school without bad
habit, and when you met them again they
had added to their lives drinking. gam
bling. everything this side Of police
court. That was not done iu day. We
do nothing in a day-not even reform in a
day. All good and evil is matter OF
ascent and descent-the latter only the
faster because the grade is easier. 1t is not
an easy experiment in the world to be
good man. No man ever fixed a day to
become good man and became one. It
nnhin road 1nnn
who proposes to walk il must fix no later
hour than raoeo, lest mig ht-fall find him far
from the end of it.
But the young man who determines TO
walk it IN this day, has far easier road
than he would have had thirty years ago.
1t is the fashion to say that the world
grows no better. 1t is not true; the worlds
opinion grows better every day. There are
many things respectable thirty years ago,
that are absolutely disreputable now.
Then, middle-aged man might drink at
a bar with boy of twenty. If he did it
to-day he would be marked at once. Then,
drinking ard gambling were looked upon
as the Wild oats young man might SOW,
without losing caste. To day the young
man who drinks and CANDLES is looked
upon as of doubtful social position, bv
both men and women. To-day in making
up their lists of Invitations, leaders in So
ciety cross out the names of dlssipated
young men as promptly as they do those
OF fast young women. Whereas thirty
years ago there was rather mantle of
sentimental charity fitted on the shoulders
of dissipated young fellow, to-day he is
roughly talked of as "dfunkard' or a
common fellow; terms that no one
dreamed of applying to him then. There
has been nothing that public opinion.
especially that section of it that may be
called social opinion, has changed in more
than in the standard it fixes for, and de-
mands from all men, and particularly
young men. The result is that when
man wants 10 be superior to vice now, he
has the moral weight of sounder Public
opinion and finds the road easier than he
would have bad thirty years ago.
L have said nothing to you about any
higher lnducement to commence a newer
life every day, than those you can fad in
the world. They are quite sufficient, or
ought to be. A healthy body, a clear N ind,
success in the world, the respect of tie
World-these are the rewards which q
good life offers here. There is lust
one other word about what it offers
elsewhere. am not preacher, you need
not be afraid of sermon. [ am just one
Of yourselves; only l have come over a
longer road than you have, and seen more
of its pitfalls as well as more of its sign
boalds. Nor do L pretend to know more
than you Of what it offers elsewhere,
But just wish to say one word to recall
what you already know; what you must
know. There is nothing that we all know
better-nothing that is more surely plant
ed IN the human mind, than that t. is is
only d part of our life; that when we shall
reach future existence We shall there
find life awaiting US which will match
with the piece We carry from this one. 1t
is very grave thought-graver than any
which we shall consider on earth, if we
UeAo idtOiAA5Oho LAOA-WDdU lilo Will
be-Whether it Will be found in one of in
Ii finite misery or one of infinite better
meDt. Here, we have the power to say
which 1t shall be. 1t is priceless power.
Let US use it. not i'll fixing days for re-
formation, not in lameDting over promises
of reform broken, and fixing other DAYS to
GENE; but in living newer life every day.
AS we can make 20 bargain nor ccmprc-
mise about the time and place where cur
life shall end, let US take the matter into
our own hands and so live that it will mat
ter little when or where the end comes. So
live that when the summons come
"Thou go not, like the quarry slave a. night
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and
soothed
BY an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his
couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant
dreamsn
p. Goyay.