The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-10-04
POWER OVER SELF.


Every one rightly desires power, for
it is the lever which moves the world
Like every other good thing it is often
abused, but in itself it is the measure
of value, the standard of possibility. Ii
radiates in a Thousand directions and
men are so eager in tracing out the
line in which they hope to exercise it
that they frequently overlook the
centre or source from which it must
spring. Power over the earth and the
elements, respect, to win the various
prizes of life, power over men and their
actions, their thoughts, their hearts and
their lives must all spring from and be
preceded by power over self. Until a
man can control his own nature, with
svarious desires and passions, thoughts
and emo.ions, actions and expressions,
he cannot acquire that real strength
which will enable him to conquer the
difficulties of life or to obtain any true
Influence over others. Even the power
to throw stone, to shoot an arrow, or
to WELD an axe successfully, requires a
certain kind of selfmastery, concen-
tration of forces, strict attention to
the matter in hand and when we come
to the far more complicated and varied
duties and projects of life the power
over self necessary,'to pursue them effec-
lively must be proportionately extensive
and complete.
Every one has something of this
power but few, If any, possess it in its
fulness. One man governs himself in
his business and throws off all such re-
straint when he enters his home An
other will be thoroughly self controlled
in the presence of his superiors, and
will give himself a loose rein when
mingling with those whom he deems his
interiors. 1t is an instructive tribute to
the value of self-control that we usu-
ally exercise it most when we are with
those whom we respect most, and when
wa are most seriously and earestly en-
gagged in some pursuit. Yet 1t is rather
the habit of continued self government
than the spasmodic ofort to exert it
that is the source Of that innate power
over men and things that we al! so
| greatly desire. The truly strong man,
whose strength Of mind and of purpose
all respect and coufide IN, is he who
habitualIy rules himself, guides his own
powers, directs his own energies, holds
the rein of his own desires and feelings.
He who is sometimes their master and
sometimes their slave will find the fit
full power gradually slipping from him,
and the CHAINS of his slavery tightening
their hold.
The absence OF this inward force is
shown not only in manifest lapses and
weak yieldlngs, but in many small and
seemingly unimportant ways. Oae Of
these is the exaggerated emphasis often
used in expression. People with strong
desires, or opinions, OF feelings, but
lacking in self coLtrol, will try to i'm
press them upon others with an inten-
sity and violence, vehemence and
turbulence, strain hyperbole, which
at once betray weakness and increase
1t. The effect IS always disastrous.
Emerson says: "1'ne person who
screams, or uses the superlative degree,
or converses with heat, puts whole
drawing rooms to fight. 1t you wish
to be loved, love measure" And this
measure is just what self command is
ever suggesting, and when we pass its
bounds we sink into comparative weak.
ness. Then there Is irritability in its
numerous forms, poisoning the moral
atmosphere, spreading its contagious
Influence far and wide, and always be-
tokenlng an absence of self-govern-
ment. Complaints and fault findings,
petulance and querulousness cloud the
sunshine of social gladness and make
| their possessor alike burden to him.
self and others. Where these weak
nesses are united to ali external author-
ty, senitive feelings are otter outraged
undeserved and excessive penalties are
inflicted and serious injustice is COM
mited, all on the spur of momentary feel
ings and for the lack OF power over
self that would make things impossible.
Much OF all this is attributed, with more
or less justice, to nervous organization
which is Of itself physical weakness.
But as we have not yet fathomed the
power of mind over body, and as we
know that much can be done by intelli-
gence ami will TO overcome these
tendencies, it remains for each one of
US to resist them as far as possible, and
thus 10 develop that inward strength
which is a source of all human power.
The caImness of real power is an ut
terly different thing from the apathy a
GOODNESS and indifference. The first is
perfectly contistent with strong passions
and intense feelings but GOODNESS IS
not strength, apathy Is not power.
Sidney Smith says: "If there be man
who has great passions, which he can
command and obey according to cir
cumstances, such man must it the end
be greater than others of equal talents"
But 10 be thus greater he must have
learned by long practice and experience
zvheu to command and 70hen to obey
his passions, and most be accustomed
to hold them with firmness and guide
them with wisdom.-Ledeer
CIGAR MAKING.
A writer who had visited a large