The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-24
HONEST 0aOwTH.

nature Is beautiful aud very good. Where
ever law Is obcyed and followed there II
grace and symmetry sign oil the haha
OF the Master who 10 wonderful In counsel
and excellent in working. And all THIS.
In men and things and their ways, we
call honest growth The perfect man
poinfod 10 The little children and the
lilies-right fresh from nature
hand--as Gods handiwork-thc bost
types and teachers possible OF the con-
dition Of PERFECTION and happiness
Everybody admires and loves the simple
hear,edness. the innocence, the honesty
and gentle, loving disposition of chill
dren. And no Thoughtful man ever re-
CARDS a child without sorrow at the
thought of how its beautiful nature may
be hardened, perverted, embittered and
wholly changed by the experiences OF
the world. All of us love MI.
Thackeray's words:
And II IA time Of sacred youth.
We learn NJ home 10 love and pray,
Pfay cod that early love ana truth
May never wholly pass away.
Our most honorable cravings and eff
forts are for frankness and simple good
ness Of childhood.
II is strange how soon the rush and
hurly burly OF life strips us OF all the
charms OF early years, withers all our
leaves. and scatters our blossoms TO the
winds. And yet the business of life is
to defend, to perfect, to cherish, ana
keep for maturity the diyineness Of
childhood The deep undertone Of
every mans life ia given in the words,
The earnest expectation Of the creature
waiteth for the manifestations OF
the sons OF God" And under and be
hind the desperate conviction that es far
as this world Is concerned all Is vanity
and vexation Of spirit there lie ana
must be place and a season for man
hood to flourish and spread itself In the
light and air Of freedom.
Nevertheless, here, before our eye
and In our daily experiences, honest
growth IS not allowed. We count that
ii is as idle 10 expect roses TO grow n
the middle Of the streets or on the tr0d'
den sidewalks as to expect men, women
or children TO live and grow honestly
and naturally in the world-least Of all
"in society" For that life babies aie
adorned with artificial curls, children
are liveried with fashionable clothing
and taught lying ysnities in ways and
words. Women, We are thankful 10 say
are not half what they seem, and men
glory In playing part. And al
the business Of life are more or less iuli
Of living vsnitiss" The beat thing thai
presents itself Is under the suspicion OF
being "put-up joo." All this applies not
only 10 politics, but 10 mems characters,
manners, accomplishments and business
Results are not natural growths Where
nature can be hid the thing is all cloth
paint and padding Where nature can
be suppressed ii is all forced
and distorted And yet time
work goes on to "unmass
falsehood and bring truth to light.
Even natures deformities assert them
selves; and if we live long enough, false
hood becomes tedious and insu1ersble
The truth Is established, Every branch
which my Heavenly Father hath nol
planted shall be rooted out" We learn
too late the wisdom of the old heather
lines
NOW. hy the gods, IL IS net 10 the power
or painting or II scuptura 10 create
tught so divine rs the fair form OF Truth.
Tn creatures Of tDeir art may catch the eye
sut her sweet nature oaptiyatss the soul