The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-15
MAUD MAPLE" AGAIN.
She Contributes Paper on Emerson's Es-
says, First Series.


She Contributes n Paper on Emerson's Es-
says, First Series.
DEAR BROTHERs AND SISTERS hope
you are enjoying these cold evenings in
reading and meditation as ! am. While 1
would encourage much reading of pure lit
erature as stimulating to noble effort. l
am cognizant Of the fact that We as peo-
pie read too much and reason too little
Meditation is lacking in the minds of the
masses.
We evince much eagerness 70 imbibe
the thoughts OF others and so color all our
own by this association. Nearly all are
won't TO court society in thought and
person rather than solitude, wherein
we alone listen to the voice
of our own soul Then let US choose our
association OF books as we do that Of our
friends.
1t is q trite saying that "a man is known
by the company he keeps" co is one
by the books he reads or chooses.
AS it has been suggested that we discuss
the books we have read as selected from
our IL. L. c. catalogue l will here speak
of one just read. "Emerson's Essays"
first series.
The author impresses US as a man OF
greatness. OF genius and worth. Perhaps
America mas not within the nineteenth
century produced another such ethical
genius as this poet and philosopher
Ralph Waldo Emerson was born at Boston
in 1903, and died at Concord, Mass. in
1882
In 1882 he made his first visit TO Europe,
which lasted nearly year. IL seems that
I H..
TO meet Coleridge, Wordsworth, DeQujn-
cey and Carlyle Ills meeting with
Thomas CARLYLE resulted in strong friend
shin, which continued until botn were old
men.
Judging from portraits of Emerson, in
both middle life aud old age, we see that
of well-balanced temperament; with
hrmness and sef-esteem as the dominant
characteristic which co ored all minor fac
uitIe=. We also note a large devel-
opment of the faculties of reason and orig
inality, conscientiOusness and spirituality
DO not think his firmness Indicative OF
stubbOrnness, or his seii-esteem that of
eeOtism. He simply realized his own
worth and recognized that of all others as
equal.
lie teaches us that the difference b.
tween persons does not lie 90 much in su-
purior wisdom as IN the expression of that
which we possess aud that il Is truly nv
the uss of our talents that they increase.
Tie saws: lie Is great who Is what be Is
from nature. and VINO never reminds Us Of
others" Then surrey he him self was
great. He was an original indie pendent
thinker. holding himself s.eadia~tlg 10 hIs
own convictions; but believing that
mans apprehension OF truth is ever
progressive. ne never stood still, but ever
pressed onward and upward to more and
more truth. Yet like ell great men no
inhabit higher sphere of thought OF live
IN advance OF their time. his writings may
not be as fully appreciated IN ths era Of
his life as they Will be in centuries 10
come.
l think no one can read his writings
without feeling stronger and better Tor il.
He impresses us with his answering
fidelity TO himself to his own souls
highest conviction as the voice Of God
within him.
BE true to thyself.
# tboa the truth would teach;
SPEAK from the heart,
II thou the heart would reach
"Emerson's Essays" of which I speak,
were published in lS4l and embrace the
following subjects: "Heroism. Love,
History ''Sef Reliance" 'COmDensa-
ton" Spiritual Laws, ''Frien dship,"
prudence The Over-SOul" Circles"
Intellect" and Art" All OF the sub
ects are 40 deeply interesting TO me, and
in this dive sitv there 10 q unity 90 ap-
parent / hesitate to break tue chain of
such sublime thought lest | mar It's SEN
timent, but will make q few extracts that
may give those not familiar some idea OF
the work
He says: "Sslf-trust is the essence Of
IL - 49, r H.
and its ultimate objects are the
last defiance OF falsehood and wrong, and
the power TO bear al that can be inflicted
by evil agents. lI SPEAKS the truth. and
IL is Just Aao saws The character
istic OF genuine heroism is its persstencv.
All men have wandering impulses. Its
and starts OF generosity. But when YOU
have reso we'd to De great abide by your
self. and do not weakly try to reconcile
yourself with the world The heroic can
not be common, nor the common the
heroic"
IL seems to me all may be heroic enough
to trust SET or the souls consciousness Of
right unfinchingly under any aud al cir
cumstances. 1t VIII be- given Us IN
that hour which is beat, if
our thought is staid on God
IS Emerson SAYS: The SOU can lie
trusted to the end" We need never fear
To take council of God through our own
soul and stand 10y il.
OF self-rellance be says: a man should
learn to detect and watch that CLEAN Of
light which flashes across his mind from
within more than the iustrs OF the tirma-
ment Of bards and sages. Yet lac dis
misses without notice his IL GU ht. because
it is his
Trust myself; every heart vibrates TO
that iron string. Great men
have always done so, and cOnfded IN
themselves childhke to the genius of
their age. betraying their perception that
the eternal was stirring vt Their heart.
working through their hands, Dredom nat
ing IN al their being" Insist on your
self; never initiate Your own gilt YOU
can present every moment with the
cumulative force Of whole life's cultiva-
ton. but Of the adopted Ia ent of another
you have only an sxtemDorane0us half
possession"
Concerning spiritual laws he saws:
the whole course OF things goes TO teach
rs faith. We need only obey There il
guidance for each of us and by lOwly
listening we shall hear the right word.
Place Yourself IN Tie middle
OF the stream of power and
wisdom which flows into you as life. place
yourself III the full center of that
food. then you are without effort impel ed
to truth. to right and a perfect content