New-York tribune., 1891-12-20
THE LESSON OF An EXCEPTION.

few days ago a man who had long Deen
conspicuous in an important field OF activity
made an unexpected announcement to number
of colleagues, competitors and other friends as
sembled at dinner in this city upon his invita-
tion He told them that the control OF three
fire-insurance companies with which he had been
identified for many years had been transferred to
other hands, and that he looked forward to
period of rest and refreshment. The secret had
been well kept, and his guests were astonlshed.
Their surprise was caused in part by the mag
nitnde of the transaction so quietly accomplished,
but partly also by the voluntary REIMBURSEMENT
of Office and opportunity by man who had
possessed authority 80 long and known SO well
how 10 WELD it.
In announcing his Retirement Mr.. Armstrong
said "I leave the business with an unblem-
ished character, my companies solvent, good far
health, competence for myself and family, at
peace with all the world-more l dc not ask"
What more could any reasonable being ask?
And yet most of those present were so amazed
that they could scarcely find words to offer their
congratulations. Not because it is intrinsically
strange that man who has secured such meas
ure of well-being should choose to lay down
heavy burden of care and responsibility, to make
way for others and to pass his declining years
in tranquility; but because the practical ex-
emplification of such rational philosophy is SO
rare among u.s. The race and the age are char
acterized by an impatient longing for more noto-
riety and new possessions, To commune with his
own heart and be still is the last thing that an
American citizen thinks of or desires. The fear
of being outsrpped in the race for wealth and
Inx, and ninhk
imagines that when he has reached the vanish
ing point of pre-eminenoe it will be delightful to
look down upon the rush and struggle beneath
him. but until then ne cannot afford to stop.
And so when an individual repudiates this the
ory of life and deliberately steps aside. his course
appears eIratic and surprising 10 the many.
While for the moment Mr.. Armstrong, by
reason of his novel departure, Is one OF the mose
conspicuous members of the community, IT Is
well worth while to consider what sensible
step he has taken. He has certainly not attained
that remote and solitary and shining goal which
most of us are trying to reach. There are no
dazzling superlatives in the record Of his achieve
ments. He tells lis that his health is good and
his fortune moderate, that the companies which
he has controlled are solvent and that so far
as he knows he has no enemies This would
be TO many a most unsatisfactory medium, valu-
able not even as breathing point, but only as
an incitement To him it affords the assurance
of comfort and serenity, of leisure to expand has
affections and explore new paths OF enjoyment
and usefulness. Everybody has heard thousand
times that it is better to wear out than to rust
out The adage is true one when it is hon
estly applied. But II is commonly and mis-
cbievously employed to justify and even to
elcrify the shutting out from life OF home. fam
ily and friendship, the exclusion Of manifold
sacred claims and all the real beadtudes. To
use the right to confer happiness, to cultivate
the love of books and pictures and flowers, to
discharge the duties Of hospitality, to ditfuse
saner views of the highest good, to exemplliy
a sound conception of civic obligations-te do all
this s not to rust out.
TO hold some such place as this IN society
Is doubtless the vague desire and expectation OF
MANY who imagine a time when they Will be
ready to acknowledge that they have earned
enough fame and money to satisfy their meanr
ambitions and that their higher nature Is entitled
to a chance But alas they often discover, when,
IL ever. that time comes, that they have no higher
nature While they have been living their motto
and wearing out the body the soul has been
rusting out. And so at last they attain the long
sought leisure only to find that they do not know
what to do with it. Rich in goods, but poor in
health and poyerty-stricken in spirit, they fret
away the remnant of existence wondering what
is the matter with the world, and never suspect
ing that they themselves are In large degree
the matter with it. From such fate MIR. Arm
strong has made notable escape.