The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26


We understand that the fish has his ele-
ment, which is the water, and that ami
mails hav their element. which is the
air. In their elements the creatures spend
their lives and disport themselves. out
Of their element, they die. We carry the
idea yet further, and speak of people as
being in their elements or out Of them. In
them, they have a good time; out Of them,
very poor one. "A fish out of water"
is the type Of many we see in the wrong
place. company or occupation.
But, while air and water are generally
spoken of as the elements of their In
habitants, what a great difference IS
there in the character and quality of
atmospheres and waters? From mere mud,
where cells and mud cats live 10 what IS
limpid, pure, and crystalline, the brook,
where the royal trout rejoices. from the
atmosphere loaded with depressing and
noxious gases, where moles and bats
live, TO the clear and exhiarating air of
the mountains, in whose glory the lark
rise to the seventh heaven, Yet, in all
degrees and conditions. these have their
occupants, TO which each state is a spe-
cial elemet in which their special quail
ties are fed and grown, be it FOR better or
worse. Such as they are. they live and
spread themselves best in their particular
elements.
Even so it is with men. Their physical
moral, intellectual. spiritual lives have a
general element Of life light; but, oh!
what endless variety. what different de-
grees are there in social and Individual
elements. We say Of certain people. that
they live i'm an atmosphere of vice, Of
sensuality. Of profanity, Of trade, of
wretched commonplace, of meanness, of
worldliness, OF physical and mental in
ebnety. II they We're fish their element
would be mud; If they were men, we
would call their afr pestilentlal.
OF others, as We rise in degree and quail
ity, we approach the element that flows
from the crystal spring and the air that
is the breath of life, that lightens the
eye. and rejoices the heart.
We speak of those whose element IS
loving kindness, gentleness, grace, intelli-
gence. peace, JOY. cheerfulness. and chart
~. And all between these extremes are
varying elements. and divers people. And
the question of whether life is worth liv-
ing, resolves itself into this: Do you live
in the mud or in the crystal spring; do
you live in the bottom Of a well, or in the !
clear bouyant air of heaven And tbs of |
ourselves, that we are thus, and thus. |
It's Of ourselves what our elements shall |
be. We make our worlds and elements /
for ourselves. And they and ourselves |
act and react. And this is the work Of |
self-cutiyation and self-discipline TO make |
the elements in which we live. Things /
true, honest and just, pure, lovely and Of |
good report cleanse the soul, and fill |
it with light and life and make its ele-
ment the highest, while filth and low |
ness makes the mind Of the wicked. that
casts up mire and dirt
Goldsmith's Village Pastor" is a beau
tiful study; but there is scarcely any
thing in any language uninspired to equal
the familiar lines Of Milton:
So dear TO heaven Is sanity chastity.
That when a soul is found sincerely 80.
\ thousand liveried angels lacquey her,
Driving far of each thought Of guilt and
SIM
And in clear dreams and solemn vision.
Tell her OF things that no gross ear can
hear.
Till Oft converse with heay emily habitants
Begins TO cast a beam on the outward
shape,
The upholstered temple OF the mind,
And turns 1t, by degrees, TO the souls es-
sence,
Till all shall be immortal
But when lust, by unchaste looks, lewd
gestures and foul thoughts,
Yet most be lewd and lavish act OF sin,
Lets in dehlement 10 the inward parts,
The soul grows clotted by contagion,
lmbodies and imbrutes, till IL quite lose
The divine perfection of its first being
Linked by carnal sensuality 20
/ degraded and degenerate state, nature
'ives pretty clear ideas OF heaven and hell.
Only eternize certain conditions that we
zee, and we have them. Natures offer IS:
Earth and worms, or life and light by the
gospel terms OF salvation