The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-02
KEY-roTEs.

We are all FAR moro interested In the matter
of key-notes than wo generally think nor
only the songs we sing or listen to, but almost
ever, thing else takes It's tone and character
high, low or mathematician its keynote.
and what gives tho keynote determines the
whole affair. With sensitive natures some
little thing that sounds clear and joyous ana
wakes up the soul to pleasant emotions--iike
1.-THE cocks shrill clarion or the echoing norm
sends it forth to day of hearty. happy
Joyous. successful work. and at the setting
sun the laborer gladly. thankfully says; Il
have lived to-day" On the other hand dole
full complaint, discoursgng word. damp
or" sends out poor soul with its mutfied
drum 10 follow funeral dirge through an un-
satisfying, unlucky. doleful day, merely to
endure hopeessly till the end comes.
The keynote Of common life for the most
part is sounded in the homo circle. But the
first responsibility of each individual, whether
he be but one of many or alone in the world,
is to follow or give out true key. Every one
Of us is indeed alone and must kindle the fire
in his own heart and sound the note that is to
call up the energies and powers of his being
10 their proper work, whether it be 10 60
forth as a strong man 10 run a race. or from
the midst Of the deserted fields, the empty
stalls and the whitening crops to proclaim
confidence in the Supreme Ruler. Every one
is responsible for the ring of his metal ana
the keynote that he sounds.
We can't help giving out and being I'M
pressed by key-notes that sometimes help us
sometimes throw US all out of tune. And all
through the day we are helping harmony or
making discord, harsh and killing.
II is pretty study. this one Of u and
II meets us all the time. An enterprise is
started conceived in sin and born in iniquitY
takes its keynote from winking
scoundrel, and evolves and expands for general
decentralization and damage. There are char
acters so identified with fraud that the very
mention of their names in an undertaking
means immediate or ultimate villiany. If the
mind miseyes don't distrust it, The flavor
of swndling and its note is unmistakable.
Unto their assembly. o mine honor, be not thou
united. And on the other hand there are
names and persons whose mention
sounds key-not of honesty and decency.
And there are such in this land that
have insured TO institutions q long-abid-
ing tone of honor and responsibility.
And these are the jewels, the conseryators,
the saviours of the country America and
the world can never be too thankful for the
key-notes of patriotism, of integrity, of lofty
manhood that were sounded by Washington,
Marshall and the heroes of our Revolution.
and by Lee and Jackson in later times.
Our special acts. our conversation our
daily temper, our lives are determined by the
key-notes that we adopt or receive. And so
great works and nations arise; grow like
grand harmonies out of their keynote.
The keynote of the coming kingdom WAS
sounded in Palestine 1000 years ago, and en-
bodied in the pater noster, and its waves will
go on expanding till all the earth joins in It's
triumphant music. The Saviour Of mankind
will have proved the keynote of the world.