Thomas County cat., 1890-05-29

tiOus from difficulties, remedies from
poisons, in her hands all things become
beautiful by adaptation, subservient by
their use, and salutary by their applica
cation. Since the intellectual attainment:
are 80 precious. and wisdom so grand in
its achievements: he who neglects to i'm
prove his mental faculties, or fails ,tC
train all his powers of mind and body, Is
not walking in these paths that under
Gods guidance cOnduce most surely to
happiness and content. This can be done
by all, since education is within reach OF
all, even the most humble. Let boys and
girls first be taught whatis is necessary tO
prepare them for the common duties OF
life: then all that can be gained from
fields of classic lore or works of polite
erudition, is of utmost value. In this en-
lightened age ignorance is voluntary mis-
fortune; for all who will, may drink
deeply at the fountain of knowledge. BY
proper improvement of time, the
mechanics apprentice may lay in store
of information that will enable him to
take a stand by the side of these persons
who have grown up in the full blaze of a
collegiate education. Learn thoroughly
what you learn be it ever SO little. and
| you may speak of it with confidence. A
few well defined facts and ideas are
worth whole library of uncertain
knowledge. We are frequently placed
| in position when we can learn with
scarcely any effort on our part. and yet
we hang back because it takes us so long
to acquire mastering of anything.
Let the end alone: begin at the begin
ming and though after all it prove but a
| inf
one point more, and your life will be
| happier for making the effort. By gain
| ing an education you shall have your re-
ward in the rich stores of knowledge you
have collected, and which will ever be at
| your command, more valuable than ma
| terial treasures.
While fleets may sink, store houses
consume, and riches fade, the intellectu-
al store you have thus gathered will be
permanent and enduring, and as unfail-
ing as the constant flow of Niagara, a
bank whose dividends are perpetual,
whose wealth is undiminished however
frequent the drafts upon it. How wise
then to secure as far as possible a COM
plete and lasting education. Now after
having traced education let us look for
one moment at ignorance ard see where
ignorance lies hidden.
l can conceive of no spectacle better
calculated to lead the mind to serious re-
Elections than that of an aged person who
has misspent a long life, and who. when
standing near the end of life's journey,
looks down the long vista of his years
only to recall opportunities unimprOved.
Now that it is all too late he can plainly
see where he passed by in needless haste
the real gems of life" in pursuit of the
glittering gewgaws of pleasure, but
which, when gained, like the apple of
Sodom, turned to ashes in his very grasp.
What different course he would pur-
sue would time but turn back in its flight
and he be allowed to commence anew to
weave the tangled web of life. But this
is not vouchsaved him. Regrets are use
less save when they awaken in the minds
of the young wish to avoid errors and
desire TO gather only the true ''jewels
of life
We will look at the two principal traits
of ignorance-envy and jealousy.
Envy is the daughter of pride. the
author of murder and revenge, the be-
ginner of secret sedition, and the per-
petual tormentor of virtue. Envy is the
slime of the soul, venom. a poison or
quicksilver which cOnsumeth the flesh
and dryeth up the marrow of the bones.
1t is composed of odious ingredients, in
which are found meanness. vice and
malice in about equal proportions Ii
wishes the force of goodness to be strain
ed, and that the measures of happiness
be abated. IT laments at prosperity, pines
at the visit of success, Is sick at the sight
of health. Like death it loves shining
mark; like the worm it never runs but to
81, c..
hound it singles out the fattest deer in
the flock.
Envy is no more foolish than detesta-
ble 1t is vice which keeps no holiday.
but is always in the wheel and working
out its own disquiet. 1t loves darkness
rather than light because its deeds are
evil Scorpions can be made to sting
themselves to death when confined in
circle of fire. Even such is envy; for,
when surrounded on all sides by the
brightness of another's prosperity, it
speedily destroyes itself He whose heart
is imbued with the spirit of envy lOOSes
much of the pleasures of life. The envi-
GUS man is in pain upon all occasions
which ought to give him pleasure.
Jealousy-There is no passion more
base, nor one which seeks to hide itself
more than jealousy. 1t Is ashamed of it.
self when it appears. 1t carries its stain
and disgrace on its forehead. We do not
wish to acknowledge ourselves it is so
ignOminous, but hidden away IN the
character we would be confused and dis
concerted if it appeared, by which we
are convinced of our bad minds and de-
based courage.
1t is difficult sometimes to distinguish
between jealousy and envy, for they
often run one after another and are
blended together. The most valid dis
tinction seems to be that jealousy is al
ways personal. The enviOus man desires
some good that another posse ses; the
jealous man suspects another of seeking
to deprive him of some good that he al
ready possesses. Such are the fruits of
ignorance and the fate of those who
take the smooth and downward course
And as many of you today are just start
ing on the duties of active life the vol
ume of the future lies unopened before
you. Its covers are Illuminated by the pic
lures of fancy, and its edges are CLEAN
ing with the golden tints of hope Vainly
you strive to loosen its wOndrous clasp:
It's task that none hut the hand of
time con accomplish. Life is before you
not earthly life alone, but life, thread
running intermediary through the warp
of eternity which begins at home and
pn0e we know NOT W boro