The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-08
IDEALS.

|
The first idea OF Prison Reformers is to
wake up the self-respect OF the convict,
| TO give him a glimpse Of ideal manhood.
! That once presented and aroused, the
| darkest bosom has a new light, the day
star arises. the beginning OF new exist
! ence. Self-respect does not mean ambi-
| ton or pride or selfshness in any shape.
| 1t does not mean a waking up to indivld-
ual merit or hereditary distinction or won
| derful excellence on any account. It
means a knowledge Of the high privilege
of manhood, with it's native honors, its
dignity and possibilities, its divine orr
ginal.
1t is not in prisons only that we are
to look for a loss of self-respect and
oblivion Of the ideal. Anyone enslaved
to low ideas and given up to sensuality
and common pursuits, in love with an
unworthy object, valves his self-respect
and parts with his ideal. 1t is said OF
covetousness that it is idolatry; and a
man whose whole soul is given up TO gain
getting and saturated with trade, stoops
\ beneath the dignity Of his being and COM
promises his self-respect, IL he does not
utterly forfeit It, He would not honor
another depraved like himself and how
can he respect himself? He must find a
standard and commoner ideal.
1t does not take the verdict Of jury or
the sentence of judge to destroy self
esteem and kill out all decent ideals.
man may gain a high office and win a
fortune, and utterly lose his self-respect
in doing so. While another may be voted
out and impoverished, and yet be rich
and blest in honor and clear conscience.
The germ Of honor lives in the life Of
the ideal. And by our ideals our life and
honor are weighed and measured. The
sacred philosopher charged upon a nation.
that their god was their belly. All such
did not die with that generation. very
low ideal is a common thing. and easily
captivates the unwary. One Of Rome's
handsomest writer's begins with the as
sertion that 1T becomes all men who
wish TO be above the lower animals who
are bent downward TO the earth, to strive
with all their power to lift up their souls
TO higher ideas"
The ideal determines the man. II his
ideal Of manhood is as a bird or beast
Of prey, the world will be to him as
the jungle OF India; he will droop and
draw up and imbruts to his ideal. II he
has no ideal. but lives. as it were. from
fashion and conforming himself to the
latest sensation, he will be as the chaff
which the wind bloweth away from the
face Of the earth.
4 high ideal is to the true man a
gloss of fashion and a mould of form.
1t is his dear delight, and study, and the
treasure of his soul: ever enlarging, ever
improving. ever Frightening. The brightest
pages OF all classic literature are those
that give pictures OF the perfect man,
and the elements that so to make the
perfect character. The Psamist compares
him TO the tree planted by the water
side-dweling under the defense OF the
Most High and abiding under the shadow
Of the Almighty, and the prophets make
him as the golden wedge Of Ophir, as
dwelling with the devouring fire, as see
ing the king In his beauty and beholdlng |
the land very far off. All these are
the bright encouraging visions to him |
who is conscious OF his native dignity. |
and aware of his possibilities.
And yet TO the realistic and practical |
man, 1t all goes for sentiment" fancy, |
pretty literary talk. May be II might be |
so. But faith in manhood was established |
by the Goldman. who gave us faith In |
virtue. and the possibilities OF humanity. |
Jesus Of Nazareth set seal upon the |
human race. lie marked It with the |