The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-06-23
Star
An ELEMENT OF SELF CULTURE.
Philadelphia Ledger.

Philadelphia Ledger.
There are few mental powers
more practically useful than that
which enables us 10 carry II
thoughts from any particular iact>
or circumstances 10 the general
laws which govern them all, or the
principles on which they are lonD-
ded. There are some people in
whom this force Of thought seems
never to have been developed
They are interested IN the details
of life, bul do not seek 10 account
for them or 10 combine them into
any degree of unity. In their oc-
equations they will encounter the
same difficulty again and again,
suffer from it repeatedly, mourn or
complain over 1t each time, and
yet fail TO seek for its underlying
cause, o as TO conquer it. In
their amusements they consult Oh
ly The within of the moment, with.
out thinking Of the meaning If
recreation or the needs to which it
ought to minister. In their social
or domestic life they meet each
pleasant or unpleasant factor as a
special good or evil, 10 be well
coined or d~eplored, without refer
ring them to any underlying prin-
ciple which might serve to explain
or 10 modify them. If they discuss
their neighbOrs, il is 10 recount
their particular actions an! make
random guesses a; their motives
rather than TO torn any larger or
lrler views OF human character.
This deficiency is not confined TO
uneducaied persons. There are
scholars who pursue their studies
in the same way-whO read his.
tory only isr its facts, neversearch.
ing into its great cause and len.
dencles which the events are only
the manifestation who study
sciences, languages and lileral ure
in their details, without forming
any true idea of The relation they
bear to one another; thus piling up
a confused mass of Information in
their memories, TO be forgotten
from its desullory character and
consequent uselessness. There j.
no true education, no growth OF
mind, no expansion of character.
where this narrow view of thing.
exists. knowledge is chiefly val.
liable in building up force OF
thought. If it do not eliminate
in this, it is Only an incumbrauce.
And intellectual force is never
satisfied with merely observing OF
noting particular facts, however
numerous, but uses them as illus.
tra'ions Of broader and higher
truths. lie who possesses it is al.
ways and under all circumstance.
growing. He meets difficulties
only 10 learn their causes and ov.
ercome them. His work, whether
manual or mental, is The ladder by
winch he mounts TO a higher con
dition. No only TO do it and &c
do II well, but also, through it Il
render himself capable of stir
higher altainments, is an aim Il
which he never loses sight. In III.
words Of a writer on self culture
1T Is mind, after all, which doe.
the work Of the world, so that The
more there is Of mind the more
work will be accomplished.
man in proportion as he is intelli
g'nt, makes a given force accom-
plish a greater task; makes skill
lake the place Of muscles, and
with less labor, gives a better pro
duct. Make men intelligent an,
they become inventive. They fin,
shorter processes. Their knowl
edge of nature helps them to lurl
lis laws TO account, 10 understand
The substances on which the,
work and TO seize on useful hint
which experience continually lurn
ishes."
Yet this power is not merely al
intellectual one. II is one of tn,
distinguishing marks Of a hIgl
moral nature. For The improve
menl of character is mainly con
cerned in rising from the slngl,
consideration OF self, With all it
petty interests, TO the higher an
broader outlook that lakes IN III,
welfare and happiness nj the Who'll
: humanity. Just as the mind lha
dwells only on the bare facts q
life, in an isolated or fragmcntar
way, NUT remain forever mario,
and weak, so the heart whic
dwells upon itself can never be
come enlarged or elevated. Tn
Two great sentiments Of our natur
The love of self and love OF oil
ers, are not antagonis,ic as som
think. The former suggests an
leads up to the latter, as is mar
ies'ed IN The golden rule, whei
the corduct, that we like 10 /
shown to US is made tie measur
of that we should show 10 olher
1t is where we do moi follow til
lead, where we remain in the ma
row bonds of seli.interest or sci
indulgence without lifting OF
hearts 10 the higher call of .justic
and mercy, of good will and bene,
olence, of charity and sympath
and love, that We degrade I'll
name OF self love to a lower lev,
than it deserves. II is not III
presence of the one, but The al
sence of the other, that constitute
the evil Of selfishness under whic
humanity groans. 1t is that fore