The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-06-05
SELF-CONTROL.

And make our parents glad!
The Appeal.
SELF-CONTRoL.
A Kingdom Whose Subjects Need to be
Constantly Kestrained-The Mightiest
Human Power In the World.
From childhood up. there has been
something inspiring to me in the sight
OF team of four horses, and to be
whirled on by them was curious MKT
ure of terror and exaltation. Who
does not like to watch the driver,
whether he sits on the high seat of a
country picnic wagon, or mounts the
elegant four-in-hand coach. What a
watchful eye. what a grasp he has on
the reins, not prance of the sixteen
feet, not pricking of the eight ears,
not a 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 if team
comes up behind. The reins are slen-
der but strong; he keeps them we'll in
hand, and because he keeps them well
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 l should go
still further think Iwould 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.
Or l might use another figure, and
say each of you is King in his own
right, having a kingdom full of sub
jects wide-awake, and often turbulent,
who must be constantly restrained if
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 I can
tell you the power over ones own self
is the mightiest human power in the
world. 1t is much more interesting to
see boy or a man subdue himself
than to watch any control of mere ami
mails.
l remember boy whom used to
study. He had a quick. fiery spirit,
which started up in anger on very
slight Indictment, indeed it was almost
vicious. But he had been taught that
wouldn't do, and his efforts at self-con-
troll were, to say the least, unique. l
have seen him as little fellow dash
out of the house in a rage, run around
it two or three lines, and come in with
smiling face. It was his own reme-
dy, administered in his own way; but
as time has gone on. he has had him
self more and more in hand, until now.
only little trembling Of the lips, and
then firm compression, show that he
is moved. That boy is destined to be
q strong man.
This is the phase of self-control
which presents itself most wildly to
you now; the quick hot spirit Of youth,
the fight which is in most boys
is what you recognize now as needing
restraint. The longer you live the
more you will see that it must lay its
hand on every part of your lives. Self
control in eating and drinking keeps
you from becoming gluttons and
drunkards; that you can understand.
But do you not know, and God forbid
you should ever realize, the possibili-
ties of evil which lie in every life.
There are risks in thinking, risks in
every affection, in every passion, in
every appetite which can only be
avoided by this stern self rule.
You can turn to the Book to find the
estimate there put upon it. Over and
over again in the Proverbs it is ex-
pressed in various ways. HE that is
slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he that ruleth his spirit than he
that taketh city," And James says:
Let every man be slow
to speak. slow to wrath" Paul
says: II keep under my body. and
bring it into subsection" / wish you
would try to find out all there is in the
Bible, which touches on this subject;
l am sure the number of texts will
surprise you.
1t will be of little use to talk OF this,
II we do not practice it. Let us begin
to-day this self-control, knowing that
it is to be a lifelong work, but know
ing also that it will grow easier as we
60 along. and we become strong in
the Lord and in the strength Of His
might
Who is freep He who masters his
own self. Who is powerful? He who
can control his passions. From Talks
with Boys" in N. Y. Observer.
SILLY AND WICKED FUN.