The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-06-09
NEVER SATISFIED.
Discomfort THE POWER Thai
PUSHES Us UPWARD AND ONWARD

ODc Step In Advance Encourages Man
kind /" Try tor Greater Advance-The
Problem of Progress Into Which the
Thoughtfui Man Sees Deeply.
Eager, enthusiastic and sanguire
people always expect to feel unbounded
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
riage his ideal of bliss, another yearns
for wealth; one covets position, another
power; one hungers for knowledge. an
other for skill; one sighs for opportunity.
another for ability Whatever be the
goal of their ambition, they believe that
to he the one thing without a flaw, the
one thing which is to insure their hap
piness and in the possession of which
their enthusiasm is never to grow cold
and their happiness never to fade.
When this goal is reached, and it Of
ten Is how are these sanguine expecta-
tions realized? Is the mind content and
satisfied: Is the pleasure unsullied? Do
the glowing colors continue as 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-
pated: Has the 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 flush of posses
sion all was joyful excitement, yet in
short time that feeling gave way to a
caliner and more dispassionate view OF
It's value. Certain flaws and defects
that would have been utterly secuted
became apparent; it grew to be a COM
monplace and ordinary possession, and
however unwilling they might be to
part with 1t. yet it was no longer upon
that, but upon other things still out of
reach that their interest and enthusiasm
were centered
Mr. Philip Hamerton. speaking of the
present attitude of the French people
toward republican form of govern
ment. gives an apt illustration of this
truth. He says The republican senti
ment. though resoIute as to tile preserya-
ton of republican forms. has certainly
become wonderfully cool The GOODNESS
of the young men is especially remark
able and significant. They are mostly
republicans. 1t is true, and have no be-
lief IN the possibility of II nlonarchical
restoration. but the more intelligent of
them see the difficulties and the defects
OF republican government very plain
~ and they have Il tendency to dwell
upon those difficulties and defects in a
manner that would astOnish the militant
republicans of the past. This composed
and rational temper Is the state of mind
that comes upon ali of us after the set
tied possession of an object, and it is a
sign of possession. Most OF us can cite
instances to match this both IN public
and private affairs nearer home.
The chief point to be considered. how
ever. is whether this result Is or is not to
oe deplored Some regard it among the
bitter experiences of life, showing mere
iy the transitory and shallow nature of
! all happiness and the futility of all
| hopes 'Of what use Is it," they say.
to strive and labor for that which
when attained, loses it's power of bless
| ing and cheering us: Why encourage
an enthusiasm that must fade away
| and hold mp an ideal that is presently to
De trodden under footy So they sink
into pessimlsin and come to believe that
| all Is vanity and vexation of spirit But
| the thoughtfui and Intelligent man sees
far deeper into the problem than this
| He has discovered that i'll this very
truth. held to-be so nournful, lies the
| kernel OF all progress.
| All the rose cOlored hopes that we in
dulge all the attractive frftnre spread
ont in snch fair proportions to our i'm
! agination, lure US on to energy and eff
fort. What does it matter that we ex-
! aggerate its importance, that we expect
| impossible effects from it. that all its de-
| fects and disadvantages are entirely hid.
den from our sights We're it not so, how
much of our striving would corhe to HI
end! And when we attain these OBJ
Jects. what more natural than that, the
excitement of pursuit being over and
the tension of mind relaxed, calmnes.
of spirit should follow and an ability tt
Judge. of its, .excellenees and its disad
vantages more dispassionately and more
l~correctly
suppose the enjoyment is less keer
and the satisfaction less complete thar
we had anticipated Should the rner,
j pleasure felt in.success be the main OBJ
ject Of our striving? Satisfaction indeet
can only be a transient emotion to al
4 intelligent and advancing man or wom
i an Were 1t a permanent condition o
mind there could be no further progress
Take, for example. the youth VIII,
longs for = higher education and tries
through many obstacles. TO obtain it
At length the opportunity comes, an,
4 his wishes are crowned with success
Yet his delight, at first very keen. grad
ualiy snbsjdes into a calm serenity
!! He comes by degrees TO understan,
the meaning Of his opportunity, its diff
culties. its sacrifices, its labor and tn
! new field Of hope and aspiration whicl
4 it opens up. he no longer rests satisfie
with the opportunity for which be 1onged
his enthusiasm now takes anothe
form; his hopes are raised to a highe
1xs~