Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-09-15
CHOICE EXCERPTS.

CHOICE EXCERPTS.
IT is an excellent rule to be observed
in all disputes, that men should give soft
words and hard arguments; that they
should not so much strive to vex as to
convince an opponent
BOUGHT wit is best, if not bought too
dear-that is, if we do not obtain 1t at
the expense of health or reputation, or
at too great sacrifice, so as to prevent
the enjoyment of the acquired good.
To those who are employed and busy
time flies with great rapidity. Life is
tedious only to the idle. Nothing is
more monotonous than the ticking of
the clock to him who has nothing to do
but listen to it.
WE celebrate nobler obsequies to
those we love by drying the tears of
others than by shedding our own; and
the fairest funeral wreath we can hang
on their tomb is not so fair as fruit
offering of good deeds.
SELFIsHNEsS, though refined, is still
but selfshness, and refinement ought
never to interfere with doing good in
the world as it exists. 1t is not desirable
to appeal early to this feeling, or per-
haps ever directly to cultivate it.
SELFIsHNEss, though refined. is still
but selfishness, and refinement ought
never to interfere with doing good in the
to appeal early to this feeling, or per
haps ever directly to cultivate it,
MANNER is one of the principal ex-
ternal graces of character. 1t is the Or
nament of action, and often makes the
commonest offices beautiful by the way
in which it performs them. 1t is hap
by way of doing, adorning even the
smallest details of life.
He who makes baselesS insinuation
against neighbor's integrity or honor is
guilty of an injustice which is atrocious
and monstrous in comparison with the
petty depreciation of the despicable
thief who breaks into his granary and
surreptitiously carries away his corn.
PERsEvERE in whatever calling you
adopt. Your progress may be slow and
results seemingly meager; but that is no
reason for growing fainthearted. Re-
member how the little brook persistent
ly winds its way to the river, and the
river to the ocean-both reach their des-
tination.
THERE must be time when the vista
of the future; with all its possibilities
of glory and of shame, first opens be-
fore the vision of youth. Then he is
summoned to make his choice between
truth and treachery; between purity
and profligacy; between honor and dis
honor; between moral life and moral
death.
LIFE is not game of ''button, button,
who's got the button" with its message
'.hold fast all L give you," and its end,
empty hands for most, the useless but
ton for the favored one. He who
takes for his motto, "Get all you can,
keep all you get, will invariably come
to the Preachers conclusion, VANITY of
vanities, all is vanity" sooner or later.
A WISE man gets happiness from what
ne is rather than from what he has.
What he is remains; what he has, who
will insure that? Plutarch says that
Alexander caused to be painted on ia
BILE a sword within the compass of a
wheel, to show that what he had gotten
hx,+ 81 1ad ohanf Nv fo fo
or fortune. Therefore with all your get
tings get wisdom. Therein lies happiness.
No man who has reached the age of
threescore years and ten would, upon re-
Election, be willing to rub out from his
experience in life the sorrows which
have softened his character, the mis-
takes which have taught him wisdom,
or the wrong doings which he has ever
regretted, and which, by their infu-
ences, have made the golden threads
which it is reasonable to suppose have
been formed in the texture of his moral
character.
A BEAUTIFUL person is the natural
form of a beautiful soul. The mind
builds its own house. The soul takes
precedence of the body, and shapes the
body to its own likeness. A vacant mind
takes all the meaning out of the fairest
face. A sensual disposition deforms the
handsomest features. A cold, selfish
heart shrivels and distorts the best looks.
A grovelling spirit takes all the dignity
out of the figure and all the character
out of the countenance. A cherished
hatred transforms the most beautiful
iineaments into an image of ugiiness.
THE man who leans contentedly and
perpetually upon some one else, whether
it be for his livelihood, or sympathy, or
help of any kind, is not being really aided,
but only still further enfeebled. He
drains another not merely to no purpose,
but to the injury of both. But if, on the
other hand, he receives the help, what
ever it be, with gratitude and use 1t as
stepping stone to better things-if he re-
gard it as a temporary loan, which he
in his turn may repay to some one weak
er than himself; if he be inspired by it to
greater efforts, and through it gain
strength to stand on his own feet-then
it has fulfilled its true mission and is no
longer dead weight but living force.