The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-11-15
SEiF-IMPROVEMENI.
WHOLESOME READING FOR
THE YOUNG.
Cease to do Evil and Learn to do wen
TDurham Recorder.1

TDurham Recorder.l
There are few people in the world
of civilization who have not an innate
desire for self-improvement. 1t may
be only vaguely expressed or not eX-
pressed at all /; it may be hardly con-
scious. or fully formed, or definite
wish; yet in each breast there dwells a
desire, more or less hopeful, not merely
for a better reputation, but for higher
and nobler character. These long
ingS, however feeble and ill-dehned,
are the germs of all moral progress,
and, like all germs, they are easily
crushed or destroyed, or nourished
INTO living growths. TO preserve and
cherish them, to bring them into vital
relation with actual everyday life, to
quicken the FAINT desire into hopeful
resolve, and convert the resolve into
real action are tasks which of them
selves, and entirely apart from any
who undertake them a truly happy
year.
There is one thought that may serve
to simplify and cast light upon this
endeavor. 1t is contained in the fol
lowing quotation: 1.-The true art of
moral culture is to balance eNtraVa-
CANT tendencies by quickening those
which are languid. Growth is a safer
means of producing harmony in char
acter than repression. x You can
not descend to the regions of the
lower nature and wrcstle with success
there. You must go above, and fight
them as Perseus fought the dragon
that would have destroyed Andromeda
on wings in the air" The usual
method in which moral improvement
is attempted is an attack upon faults
Certainly, at first sight this is the most
obvious thing to be done. To "ccase,
to do evil, whatever that evil may
be, is undoubtedly a clear duty, and
many persons think that until that is
done there can be no " learning to do
WE'LL But the truth is, that it is in
learning to do we'll that we most fully
and speedily cease doing evil. There
is no way in which a fault can be SO
thoroughly corrected as in practicing
the opposite virtue. For instance, a
man is conscious of being at times i'll
natured and cross, unkind and DISC
bliging. He sincerely regrets the
habit and wishes to leave it off, Now,
simply to watch against the tempta-
ton and strive to crush down the
harsh or bitter word as it rises to his
lips, while useful ordeal, is but su-
perflcial part of the work. The real
object, that upon which he should lay
his emphasis, is the cultivation OF sym
pathetic feelings, of a pleasant dispo-
sition and a habit of gentleness and
kindness in all his intercourse. The
effort to make this the habitual tenor
Of his life will prove the most eGfectual
corrective of the defect he wishes to
cure.
A young person may be sensible of
certain frivolity of life or converse
ton, which he would gladly renounCe.
Instead of directly attacking the evil,
and banishing the subjects that have
engaged him, let him interest himself
in something earnest and noble, plann-
ing and working for it with all his en-
ergies; and soon the current of his
thoughts will be changed, and the
frlyolty which clung SO closely TO him
will drop away Ike a superhuous gar
ment. Even the more serious ofenses
Of which men are guilty are subdued
far more thoroughly by positive than
by negative means. To implant
love Of anything pure and noble is a
surer means Of conquering base desires
and preventing base actions than the
most arduous conflict or the direst
penalties. Every good teacher knows
4 that the best way to cure the moral
delinquencies of his pupils is to excite
4 popular love Of truth and desire to
/ be trusted in the school; and the
author quoted above says truly, " No
court marshal or provost marshaPs
cord would stop thieying in regi-
ment or make a coward brave; but an
esprit du corps and honor have done
it again and again"
So in every case the faults which
men bewaiI, and which are so hard
to conquer, will melt away before the
warmth of positive well-doing, IS the
dew vanishes before the morning sun.
The sun makes no fierce attack, enters
into no conflict simply shines and
diTuses the moisture TO be used again
in other benehcent forms. So positive
! righteousness, goodness, truth and love
shine, and, by their simple presence,
diffuse and convert into useful forms
T the lower, and what would otherwist
be the ,baser tendencies Of human
! nature If then We have faults thai
We would fain be rid OF, let us "leaEr
. to DO we'll, so shall we most surely
- cease to do evil"