The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-05-24
SELF-CONTROL.

Kingdom Whose Subjects Need to be
Constantly Restrained-The MIsnIAesS
Human Power in the World.
From childhood up, there has been
something inspiring to me in the slght
of a team of four horses, and TO %
whirled on by them was a curious MKT
ure of terror and eXaltatlOn. VINO
does not like to watch the driver,
whether he sits on the high seat OF
country picnic wagon, or mounts the
elegant fourth hand coach. What
watchful eye, what grasp he has on
the reins, not a prance of the sixteen
feet, not pricking of the eight ears, |
not turn of the four heads escapes |
| him. He knows which one will shy on |
| the slightest provOcation, which one
| will be ready to start off II team
| comes up behind. The reins are slen-
der but strong; he keeps them we'll IN
hand. and because he keeps them we'll
in hand. the coach whirls on in safety.
dare say you have all envied him.
You will not be at loss to under
stand the figure, if | say you are each
| driving four-in~hand. If should go
still further | think | would name your
steeds: Thought Affection, Appetite
and Passion, and when you have learned
to manage them in all their different
| exercises, you have learned self-cOn-
troll.
OrI might use another figure, and
saw each of you is King in his own
right, having a kingdom full OF SUBJ
iects wide-awale and often turbulent
who must be constantly restrained ii
order and right-doing shall prevail in
the realm. This kingdom we call
Self" and to rule it well is to have
} self-cOntrol.
We are all fond of power, but / can
tell you the power over ones own self
is the mightiest human power In the
world. 1t is much more interesting to
1 see a boy or man subdue himself
< than to watch any control of mere ami
-, mails.
= | remember boy whom | used to
! study. He had a quick, fiery spirit,
r which started up in anger on very
g SLIGHT Indictment, indeed it was almost
n vicious. But he had been taught that
y wouldn't do, and his efforts at self-con-
a troll were, to say the least, unique.
have seen him as little fellow dash
q out of the house in rage, run around
Il it two or three times, and come in with
. a smiling face 1t was his own RENE.
r DIV, administered in his own way; but
"a as time has gone on, he has had him
70 self more and more in hand, until now
p only little trembling of the lips, ant
= then a firm compression, show that ht
IT is moved. That boy is destined to b.
il a strong man.
at This is the phase of self-contro
which presents itself most wildly t.
. YOU now: the quick hot spirit of youth
the fight which is in most boy
ne is what you recognize now as needing
ut restraint. The longer you live tn
at more YOU will see that it must lay it
p hand on every part of your lives Self
ba control in eating and drinking keep
ed you from becoming gluttons an
ad drunkards; that you can understand
But do YOU not know. and God forbi
OF you should ever realize. the pOssibili
~ ties of evil which lie in every life
in There are risks in thinking. risks il
p every affection, in every passion, i
nd every appetite which can only b.
81 avoided by this stern self rule.
~ You can turn to the Boo, 10 find tn
er, estimate there put upon it. Over an
so over again in the Proverbs it is ez
Of. pressed in various ways. He that
y slow to anger i better than the mighty
and he that ruleth his spirit than b
W. that taketh a city" And James says
M LET every man be slo
to speak, slow to wrath" Pa
The says: Il keep under my body. an
in bring it into subsection" ! wish yo
sta would try to find out all there is in tn
Bible, which touches on this subiec
an / am sure the number Of texts wi
n surprise you.
in Il will be Of little use TO talk OF thi
If we do not practice it. Let Us beg
-ou to-day this self-contro., knowing thi
1on it Is to be lifelong work. but kno,
ha. ing also that it will grow easier as v
hv 60 along. and we BECOME strong
the Lord and in the strength of II
might"
c. Who is free? He who masters h
"a own self. Who IS powerfulo lie VI
~ho can control his passions. -From Tai
,ra1 with Boys" in y. Y. Observer.
cntN AMn HaI~Err r,tn