The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-03-10
S0lf.DfSciDlfno.


True discipline is what we all need to
bring out the best that is in us. Only thus
can any one experience the meaning and
the blessing of freedom, for without it.
though no hand may direct him and no
voice command him. his own breast will be-
scene of anarchy and tyranny. and he its
powerless victim. Perhaps no other power
is more important in the pursuit of the va
riOus avOcatiOns of life 1t enables man
to submit patiently to whatever preparation
is necessary, to overcome natural repug-
nanceS which would hinder his career, to
triumph over the love of ease. or the crav-
ing for pleasure. which would destroy his
hopes of success. Many man with brill
liant talents has been wrecked upen these
unseen rocks. He has trusted to his abili-
ties and they have betrayed him. simply be-
cause they were not we'll disciplined. The
dry details of his work weary him, it's
drudgery he cannot bear. its enforced regu-
larity he despiSes. Presently, to his sur
prise. he is distanced in the race by those
of inferior powers, but who, by persever-
ance and self denial, have used them to a
better purpose. Often the authority of the
mind is required to make us leave off what
duties and interests.
Much of the OverwOrk that is so fire.
quently prOstrating men of business and
professional life comes from the lack of
self. discipline. They know and will adj
NIT that they are doing too much, that they
need rest and relaxation; that they are not
giving what they owe to their families or to
society, but they plead that they cannot
help it. which simply means that they have
not the power OF command over themselves
which would enable them to do what they
know to be right. A self poised man has
the same control over the various faculties
that the practiced musician has over the
keys of his instrument. while the undiSci-
plined man strikes at random, never know
ing whether harmony or diScOrd may ensue.
Not only in the labor of our lives do we
need to preserve this authority over self.
In our hours of recreation, in our assOcia-
ton with our fellow men, in the thousand
details of life, its constant presence is nee
essary. 1t distinguishes the strong and
noble character from the weak and waver-
ing one. 1t enables us to choose between
the different motives which are constantly
presenting themselves, and to stem the tide,
instead of drifting helplessly down with the
current.
Every one has an ideal life. higher than
to be better, nObler. more just and gener-
Gus and dsinterested than we are. Through
self discipline alone can we climb this lad
der and approach this ideal. 1t is by no
chance metaphor that we speak of ascend
ing to the higher life. or sinking to the
lower. The one determination. power. eff
fort; the other merely the absence of all
these. the letting go of the moral reins. the
abdicatiOn of authority over SELF For one
man who resolves to deliberately and know
ingly tread the downward path, there are
thousands who merely skim into it from
mental inertia. If we lose control of our
muscles, we fall to the earth; if we lose
control of our mental facilities we fall into
idiOcy; if we lose control of our moral pow
ers. we fall into evil Weakness is the real
slavery; strength the real freedom. And
this strength is the evergrowing result Of
discipline. Each one may gain it and hold
it for himself; for, like every other power.
it grows by exercise. and no one who seeks
it in earnest will seek in vain.-Philadel-
phia Ledger.