Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-24
SELF CONTROL.
EVERY DAY UTILITY OF THE ART
OF STOPPING.

Dcaoon's FaiIing-A Lecturer Who
Couldn't Lot Go-Presideut LinooIn's
Particular GIFT.
"Dld you ever notice the difference in tho
way that different drivers stop the horse
carsi One starts his horses ON jump, gives
a jump himself to avoid the jar tumbles all
his passengers half over toward the rear end
of the car, and when the signal 10 stop is
given he gives the brake sudden jerk,
whirls around to see if his passenger is oil,
whirls again while his human load is tumbled
toward the front of the car, is off before they
come 10 an equilibrium, stops again in the
same way, jams IA short gentlemans head
into ladys bonnet, jams ladies' hats into
genteincns faces, and, all in all, keeps up a
continuous strain ON peoples politeneSs; UNI
corks an occasional immoral invective; has
every corn in the car tro1 ON; elegant dresses
plunged into by the soiled hands of tumbling
unfortunates, all for not knowing how to
stop.
John Excel is my IDEAL When he sees "A
signal he gently touches the brake, draws in
his horses, calculates to nicely how much
force will bring his car to a halt just at the
crossing. When II passenger wishes to alight,
John stops his car in the same level headed
way; rarely turns around; knows when tho
man is oil, 10y delicate sense Of feeling;
starts easy, and the car glides off with n pic
mic smOothncSs. Nobody is tumbled into no.
body, and oycrybodyis really enjoying the
ride When the car is not overiul gentlemen
read Their papers, put on their spectacles with
ease, discuss the ncws, make nice bows to lady
friends; and, when thsy ali9ht, are never
tumbled in the street. All from having the
art of stopping
THE DEACoN's FAILING.
Father D. was "A pious old deacon in an
Ohio church He was relied on by his pastor
as n right hand man. He was anxious to do
his duty, and if called ON to testify in
meeting had it not in conscience to refuse
But, alas! poor Deacon D., how he should
stop he never knew. He tried to speak his
closing words, but every sentence in spite of
him, would close itself with an land" or with
but This pledged him to another sen
tence which also fatally closed with another
land" Dear brother hear him patiently
say, 81 am an unworthy disciple, and have
nothing to say that is worthy Of your con-
sderation-but But | know that | ought
always to be ready to testify of the Lords
goodness-and. And now | will close what
have to say-and. And beg of you always
to be instant in season and out of season,
doing what your hands find to do-and. And,
as | was saving, know my own unwOrthi-
ness to speak of what the Lord is doing in
Zion-but. But don't want to stand in the
light of Others who would do their duty
and "Andn-and so the poor fellow stepped
on the trap every time, in spite of himself.
At last, perspring and scared, the ands and
butts rolled into II confused ball Of words, and
the deacon fell back exhausted His testi-
mony was IA terrible ''cross, not only to him
self, but to all the brethren and sistersn
When Rev. DR. NJ was invited to lecture
bpfDrp the lVcpuul of \ he bppou Mt
O'Clock His lecture was from ono of those
topics that open at both ends He lectured
from each end alternately; now bit of
theory, and then bit of application. He
lectured for one hour The audience was
then somewhat ovcrfull They were getting
uneasy. He lecturcd one hour and quarter,
and just beginning to enjoy himself
The audience began to DO markedly impa-
tient. One hour and half Two-thirds of
his audience left One hour and three-quar-
ters He evidently wanted to stop but could
not get to an end The audience that re-
manned from respect to his character was
excessively angry Two hours The affair
grew ludicrous. People looked in each others
faces and laughed, Assuring them that he
must not detQin them any longer, the doctor
broke off his thread All for lack of the art
of stopping
THE GIFT OF LINCOLN.
In politics the art of stopping is pre-emi-
nent 1t was the particular gift of Lincoln.
How terribly impatient we all got with him
after the battle of Bull Run! But was no
ever driven by clamor to one hasty step
What u terrible burden that man bore for
those months when Chase said, ''If he lives
he will wreck us and honest men wished
he would die. 1t is wonder he did not die
Lincoln had the marvellous power to lead
but never to be more than one step ahead of
the people. Henry Clay had somewhat of
this popular leadership, and SO did Webster;
but neither of them could be sure to stop
both lost the presidency for that reason.
Douglas had the art but he committed him
self to one great error, and could never be
allowed to stop. 1t is the doom of political
bluuder that it leads on and on to perpetual
complications. But you cannot read the life |
of Lincoln, and not admire his art of self |
control.
am peculiarly pleased with the training |
we are getting in these days by science in the |
art of stopping If you study the life of OAR |
win you will admire nothing SO much as his |
stopping short of mere speculation do not |
think he has been found ever to have gone |
one step beyond the direct and positive war
rant of data. You may imagine what the |
evolution idea born into some brains would |
have led to- Indeed, we have seen some very |
eminent men compelled to back out of some |
very ludicrous places, because they did not |
stop in time. Scientific training is having |
wonderful influence in compelling us to test |
and prove we go.-'E p. /" in Globe |
Democrat