The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-24


quickly yields to summer. summer 70 fall.
and fall to winter. for the most part. OF dis
content. We sadly ask. must ali freshness
depart with the morning Of lfey is the
clothing Of manhood a case-armor OF prelu-
dices. opinions and conyentionalities; Is 1t
mature life 70 be set in our ways, fixed IN our
notions: hide-bound, fenced-n and incapable
Of change or enlargement; But we say that
is the general rule, the way Of the world and
the special history OF the individual. All IS
vanity and Yexation Of spirit and it is waste
OF time 10 complain or bother about 1t. Lots
eat the fat and drink the sweet and 90 ahead
And yet tit is pleasant reflection andexoeri-
ence that each day and year IS born fresh and
Young. and has its birth. advance, its chances
and maturity and dark OF glorious outqo-
ing. and that tho coming and going genera
ton have the young and fresh ana growing ia
different stages. living and passing before our
eyes, showing our sympathies, picturins and
impressng on each one the whole story Of
life at glance. All human things please,
and we're meant TO be beautiful III their time
A green old age is as natural as bright and
beautiful childhood
one Of the handsomest writers Of the day
discusses that every stage Of life Is an adj
vance and that it is not wise 70 wish that We
were boys again. As well might We deplore
the loss Of our bottles and baby clothes and
short pants and tasks and sports and royster-
inc yanities. The lie that is the honor and
glory and delight IF infancy was never IN
tended to burn out, grow dim or die; but it
was meant rather T. grow and increase III
power, in intensity and brlliancy, and at last
praise It's author in mellowed. perfected. gcr-
geous spendor. like the setting sun illumi-
mating the darkness Of its departure with
beautiful. comforting glow, the assurance
from within the vale Of continuing life and
certain resurrection.
is this fancy. poetry. sentiment Is 1t not
the simplest panest. and most familiar
teaching of nature: And yet the business,
practical question is, how is this light of life
this i've condition to be fed and cherished
and kept On is there a fountain of perpetual
youth. Can the life of early years be pre-
served through all the falseness and killing
damps and in spite of all the debris and rub
bsh of the common place working day world:
Can it survive the dry and smothering fuel
and sickening tasks of the school? Can it
live under the heartess. lifeless convention
alties Of society, where all its most beautiful
grace and light is counted folly
and sinfulness? How can it flicker
in the struggle and scramble and
rush and fierce fight of ambition and
avarice or the mortal strife for mere subsis.
tencey What is to keep alive the lights Of
life in the journey and warfare Of our DAYS
on earth? How shall it be kept fresh. and
what hope ID there Of growth; Is it all a
dream that brows may be unchanging and
hearts never cold? Woe to the man that
abandons the hope And yet how many are
willing to count the whole thing rs a fraud
and dash all into the fire of some consuming
passion
Life is q reality, and its fires may be
! kindled and kept alive forever. And these
latter days show many to whom living and
/ glowing and growing is moving principle
and the tree planted by the water side is a
dear deal-fed upon truth and cherished by
natural joys and manners and sympathies and
affections, devoted to honor and bent on
/ keeping and enarging their divine patrimony
Of manhood. To this each stage Of life Is pro-
foundly interesting higher level opening
more expansive views aud q clearer atmos-
phere These pass from strength to strength
and use all the ycsstudes of life to purity
their own souls and confirm their hold on
Heaven The words of the prophet for re-
deemed Israel are beautifully applicable to
their whole lives
Il will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall
grow as the lily. and cast forth roots as Le-
banon. They that dwell under his shadow
shall return: they shall revive as the corn, and
grow as the vine: the scent thereof snail
he as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall
say. What have l 10 do any more with idols .
/ am like green fir tree. From me is thy
fruit found
The fountain of perpetual youth and growth
and life is the Saviour of mankind, who is
also to his followers as the vine to the
branches And the natural and divine law is:
Except the branch abide in the vine it with
ereth.