Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-03-08
sArraDAY nIonr@ soLILooUiEs.

sAruaDAY sIGnr'~ sOLILOQUiEs
While the moldiBg force OF life,
and the power that shapes our des
TIME. ls largely sentiment, there ar
ma1y practical concerns entirely
unsentimental in their nature. AZ
ter q hard weeks work one would
fain rest and enter upon a peaccfu'
state Of mind, sit back IN one's
chair and fall into soothing reverb
over things past aud future, aud let
the stormy present drop out OF sight.
But that cannot always be done.
We cannot always compose the
working order Of the mind, as the
toy-man would his shop, and say
to-day will sell mainly dolls. or
tomorrow shall be rOcking-hors''
day, or on another, I will deal with
all things indiscriminatcly. The
mind IL not alone appointed master
Of the body; It too has "a rnaster-a
higher power that often directs lis
course. so at times the brain sets
10 reasoning about things II would
ike to cast off. The man who has
done wrong would In vain shut out
inward contemplation Of his wrong
doing. The atheist would often be
glad to completely ignore the queS-
tions Of conscience AMI religion, but
cannot sweep them from the hori
zDn OF his intellect. A hidden mon
Itor says to him, You have taken up
these problems, and they shall give
you no rest, 10 peace Of mind, until
you shall have rightly solved them.
But our Saturday Night S0liloquies
are not TO be interrupted by religious
or political controversies. We are
10 keep on broader grounds-we are
10 keep In touch with the universal
aspirations and heart-thrObs Of hu-
manily--if we can.
Who has not thought Of his own
power and influence and rightful
use Of It? Where is the source Of
nc~er2 In the individual, says one;
In the peorle sayp the declaration Of
independence; In God says the
minister; In the hands Of the mighty
Of earth. the rich, the great, says
society. All partly truth and partly
error. But the right use Of power,
of influence, be 1t by man, state, or
deity, il the real problem, after all.
Is power with the individual?
For a short time, perhaps; he Is
gone; his place Is illledi the world
moves on; even Of Judas II was said,
another let his Office take. Ispower
with the great, the rich, the power
ful, those In high placesP Plainly
not. Who put them thereP Hsw
long can they remain? They are
the growth Of season of pollt-
lcal sunshine and popular
favor. They pass away aud even
their names are forgotten In a few
years. IL II not true that the source
OF power and influence IL not with
these? Higher still We must seek.
Il II found In the divlnely implant-
ed impulses Of humanity to aspire
to things that are higher and better
There walks past the Office strong
iy built maiden. going to her work.
Her form Ia squarely built. Her
face IL clear and beautiful. Her step
II not all grace, but II Is powerful,
From under her turban show the
coils Of fiaxen hair. PAS on II few
years. Some impulsive man whose
heart IL on fire with love will give
his life before lie would allow harm
Ia be done 10 q single strand OF that
golden hair. Why Has she
wealth. No. Has she u station Ia
life? She In n toller, Why will he
lay down his life for herr You say
for love. You any rightly In one
sense, but the real answer Is because
she Is the upright, honorable
walking embodiment Of vhtue
ard purity, the casket where dwell
those priceless jewels Of the human
race, chastity aud honor These
are some Of the sources OF power
aud influence. They abide Ia the
hearts OF the dwellers la the cottages
aud the humble workers homes,
Ear more often than In thc perinmed
chambers of the great, Who ARE
the grcatg The creatures OF lottery
of chance. lie who lnlagines that
those la high stations In society, Ia
high offices of state, are the solo