Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-05
NEVER SATISFIED.
Discomfort THE POWER THAT
PUSHES US UPWARD AND ONWARD.

kind to Try tor Greater Advanee-The
Problem OF Progress Into Which the
Thoughtful Man Sees Deeply.
Eager enthusiastic and sanguipe |
people always expect to feel unbounded |
satisfaction in the actual possession of
that which they strive for The boy |
longs to be man, the youth Graves in |
dependence, one looks forward TO mar
rage as his ideal of bliss. another yearns |
for wealth. one covets position, another |
power, Que hungers for knowledge, an |
other for skill, one signs for opportunity. !
another for ability Whatever be the !
goal of then ambition, they believe that
to be the one thing without 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 1t Of
ten Is. now are these sanguine expecta-
tons 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 nave gained their point
they nave secured what they desired.
but have they realized what they antici-
patedf Has the success been SO very
successful after alE
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
calmer and more dispassionate view Of
its 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 it, yet it was no longer upon
that, but upon other things still out Of
reach that their interest and enthusiasm
were conferred
MIR Philip Hamerton, speaking of the
present attitude of the French people
toward a republican form of govern
ment gives an apt illustration of this
truth He says The republican senti-
ment, though resolute as to the preservar
tion 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 monarchical
restoration. but the more intelligent of
them see the difficulties and the defects
of republican government very plain
ly. and they have a 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 all of us after the set
lied 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
be deplored. Some regard it among the
bitter experiences of life. showing mere
ly the transitory and shallow nature OF
all happiness and the futility of all
hopes "Of what use Is it, they say
Ito strive and labor for that which.
when attained, loses its power of bless
ing and cheering rs? Why encourage
an enthusiasm that must fade away
and hold up an ideal that is presently to
be trodden under footy So they sink
into pessimism and come to believe that
all is vanity and vexation of spirit. But
the thoughtful and intelligent man see;
far deeper into the problem than this
he has discovered that in this very
truth, held TO be so mournful, lies th'
kernel of all progress.
All the rose colored hopes that we in
lrl.x.1 aIl tho F,rfr,ro oraraas
out in such fair proportions to our i'm
aginatiou, lure us on to energy and of
fort. What does it matter that we ex
aggerate its Importance, that we expec
impossible effects from it, that all its de
fects and disadvantages are entirely hid
den from our sightl We're it not 50, hoS
much Of our striving would come TO a
end And when we attain these OF
Jects, what more natural than that, th
excitement of pursuit being over an
the tension of mind relaxed, a calmnes
of spirit should follow and an ability
Judge Of its excellences and its disac
vantages more dispassionately and MOI
correctly
Suppose the enjoyment Is less kee
and the satisfaction less complete tina
we had anticipated Should the mel
pleasure felt in success be the main o
1ect OF our striving? Satisfaction indies
can only be transient emotion to q
intelligent and advancing man or wor
an Were it a permanent condition
mind there could be no further progres
Take for example, the youth wi
longs for higher education and trit
1hrough many obstacles, to obtain
AT length the opportunity comes, al
his wishes are crowned with success
Yet his delight, at first very keen, gra
ually su bsides into calm serenity.
He comes by degrees to understai
the meaning of his opportunity its dii
entities. it's sacrifices, its labor and t