Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-08-29
JOHN c. DILL, Id Bridge. Madison Township,
ENJOYMENT OF LIFE.
Make the Hest of Every Thing and You
 Are Sure to Be Happy.

Make the Hest of Every Thing and You
 Are Sure ta Be Happy.
 There are a great many persons in pursuit of happiness whofail to succeed because they are unable to take pleas uros as they come, but are forever reaching out for something beyond them. While it is folly to pursue life of mere selfish qualification, it is the duty of all to try to enjoy themselves in this world; to be contented and happy where Heaven has placed them. There are many people who miss the pleas ures of life because they are indifferent to the pleasures of nature. They do not stop, as Ruskin says, ito watch the corn grow or the blossom set" but rush on in feverish haste in pursuit of money, as if that were a certain road to enjoyment. The morning song of the thrush, the gleam of the humming- birds plumage, the beauty of lakes and the majestic grandeur of mountains bring no pleasure to some natures. Many people lose all enjoyment in life because they are hypercritical. They are forever in search of flaws and in perfections instead of looking at the best side. No picture or work of art gives them genuine pleasure, because they are not content with 1t. They find some slight error which no one else possibly has discovered, and 1t over balances their enjoyment of a noble eff fort of the artist. A taste of genuine art is one of the most noble and rein- ing of which man is capable. It is an inspira tion to a noble nature to higher living and better thinking. Many lov- CTS of music seem SO critical in their appreciation that they lose all pleasure in any performance that they attend. A discriminating taste is an ex- celent gift, but this is a different thing from hyper critical taste. Many persons fail to en- joy their homes for the same reason. They always find more needs that can not be filled than pleasures to enjoy. Nothing, in short, gives them true en- joyment for any length of time. One of the most frequent causes of dissatisfac- tion is f1ckleness of taste. Nothing seems of any value to some people after it is fairly in their grasp. The most beautiful gem afar off becomes com mon pebble in their hands. A bird in the bush seems far more beautiful than one in the hand. Such people can never be happy until they learn to take pleas ure in what they have. It is the small things of life, enjoyments of the hour, that make up the sum of human hap piness. Those who do not find pleas ures enough to be happy in the position in which they are placed, need seek no farther. In short, enjoyment comes from within; it is the disposition of the man, not his sur roundings, that makes or mars his life. Put the discontented laborer, who com plains against the law of Heaven that he should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, in a palace, and he would still find cause for grumbling, There are not enough Mark Tapleys among us, who try to be cheerful under difficult ties. What a pleasure it is to know happy people who make the best of every thing; people whose fires always burn brightly and cheerfully, and whose daily fare is thrice blessed because it is taken with a cheerful spirit Y. Tribune.