Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-02-27
NEY Err SATISFIED.
Discomfort THE POWER THAT
PUSHES US UPWARD AND ONWARD.


kind to Try tor Greater Advance-The
Problem OF Progress INTO Which the
Thoughtfui Man Sees Deeply.
Eager, enthusiastic and sang1line
people always expect to feel unbornde,l
satisfaction in the actual possession Of
that which they strive for. The boy
longs to he man; the youth Graves in
Dependence; one looks forward to mar
mage as his ideal of bliss. another year1is
for wealth; one covets position, another
power; one huugers for knowledge, an
other for Skill; one signs for opportunity.
another for ability Whatever be the
goal of their ambition. they believe that
to he the one thing without flaw. the
one thing which is to insure their hap
plneSs and in the possession or which
their enthusiasm is never TO grow cold
and their happiness never TO fade.
When tins goal is reached AMI 1t Of
ten is. how are these sanguine eXpccta-
uons realized? Is the mind content and
satisfied? Is the pleasure nnsullietG DO
the glowing colors continue rs bright as
before: Does their buoyancy receive no
check? They have gained their point.
they have secured what they desired.
out have they realized what they antici-
lsste.l? Has TIE success been so very
successful after all:
Probably most Of those who have had
these experiences will have To confess
THAT while in the first Arsh of posses
SION all WAS joyful excitement, yet ii Il
short tiine that feeling save way to
calIrer and more disinSsionate view OF
its value Certain flaws and defects
that would have been utterly secuted
tt,c2slue apparent: ii grew TO be q corn
nlonplace AMI ordinary possession, anal
however unwilling they might be 70
part with it, yet 1t was no longer upon
that, but npon Other things sill ont Of
reach that their interest and enthusiasm
were centere,i.
Mr. Philip Hame.tca. speaking of the
present attitude OF the French people
toward :; republican form of govern
plent. gives an apt illustration OF tiis
truth. lie says: The republican senti
nlent, though reso!nte rs to the preseTvil-
non Of republican forms. has certainly
become wonderfully cool. Tie coolncss
of the yonng men Is especially remark
able and significant They are mostly
republicans Ii Is true, and have no be-
lief i'll The possibility VI Il nlorarchical
restoration but the more Intelligent of
them see the difficulties and the defects
or republican government very plain
~ and they have z tendency 10 dwell
upon those di.iiculties and defects i'll
l:rIliler ,ha; would :sstonlsh the militant
republicans of the PAST. This composed
and rational TEMPER Is the stare Of CllId
that comes upon all Of rs after the set
tied possession of an object, and i Is
sign Of possession. Most of MS can cite
INSTANCES to match this both IN public
and private affairs nearer home.
The chief poirt 10 be considered, how
ever, is whether this raSnlt Is or is not 20
I've dep!ored. Some regard 1t among the
bitter experiences of life. showing mere
~ the tr;l.isitory AMI shallow nature of
all happlness and the futility OF all
hopes "Of what use Is 1t, they say
TO strive and labor for that which.
when attained. ls,sp; it, power of Giess
ing and cheering MS? Why encourage
an enthusiasm that must fade away
and hold u7 an ideal that is presently to
De troddeu under foct?' So they sink
into pesSlmls,n aud come to believe that
ali Is vanity and vezation Of spirit. Eat
the thoughtful and Intelligent man sees
far deeper lato the problem than this
He has discovered that III this very
truth. heia to I've So iaourifll. lies tic
Kernel of ell progress.
All the rose colored hopes that we in
dul1e, all the attractive fCt1re spread
ont IN such fair proportions to our i'm
agination. lure MS Oh to energy and eff
fort. What does it matter that we en-
aggerate its Importance, that we expect
impossible effects frun. it, that I'll It's G9
tects and disadvantages are entirely hid
den from our sight: Were it not so, how
much of our STRIVING would come to sn
end. And when we attain these Oh
lects, what more natural than that, the
6XClkGIIellt vi WILLY OfNi oii'A
the tension Of mind relaxed, 4 callnness
of spirit should follow and IN ability to
nudge of It's eScellences and its disad
vantages more dispassionately and more
correctly
Suppose the enjoyment is less keen
and the satisfaction less complete than
we had anticipated. Should the mere
pleasure felt in success he the main ol,
iect of our striving: Satisfaction indeed
can only I've Il transient emotion to an
intelligent and advancing man UT woil-
an Were it Il permanent condition vi
mind there could he no further progress
Take, for example. the youth who
longs for a higher education and tries.
through many obstacles, to obtain it
at length the opportunity comes, and
ms wishes are crowned with success
Yet his delight, at first very keen. grad
ually subsidies into calm serenity
He GENES by degrees to understand
the meaning of his opportunity. It's diii-
culties. its sacrifices. its laMr and the
rev field Of nope and aspiration which
IT opens up. He no longer rests satisfied
with the opportunity for whichhe lonscd;
mia enthusiasm now takes another
form: his hopes are raised to higher
level; bis energies are engaged i'll taking
advantage of The fortunate occasion
and he now looks With e'lnal carnestness
TO the time when he shall have finished
mis- course and begun the life work
which he has planned.
And when that time corncs he will go
through the same experience. Lis gi;A
enthusiasm Will he transferred to 4 still
higher altitude. an,l his new ideal will
draw him sill onward ami upward. Is
there anything SAT! or bitter i'll such an
experience: Is there any loss Of real
na,nnness III this failing away Of tenn
uorary lieasurei It Is indeed the only
Road to happiness that IS worthy ct u