Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-03-29
CHOICE EXCERPTS.

WHEN we embark in the dangerou
ship called Life, we must not, like Ulys
ses, be tied to the mast; we must know
how to listen to the songs of the siren
and how to brave their Establishments.
BEASTS, birds and insects, even to tn,
minutest and meanest of their kind, &C
with the unerring providence of instinct
man, the while, who possesses highe
faculty, abuses it, and therefore goe
blundering on.
IT is the age that forms the man, no
the man that forms the age. Grea
minds do indeed react on the societ,
which has made them what they are
but they only pay with interest wha
they have received.
TRUE refinement knows how to be po
lite without involving insincerity or an.
other compromise of conscience. Boil
egoism and egotism are impolite in rude
ly or crudely blurting themselves out
reckless of any standards higher thai
their own pampered hobbies.
WE are poor, silly animals. We liv'
for an instant upon a particle of ;
boundless universe, and are much like {
butterfly that should argue about thu
nature of the seasons, and what creates
their vicissitudes, and does not exist it
self to see an annual revolution of them
EVERY honest work thoroughly an(
faithfully performed, from the laying ot
a good road to the administration of {
good government, has beneficial effecI
upon the world. Just as stone thrown
into the water makes ever widening cir
cIes TO which we can set no limits, 81
patient and Intelligent labor of head ol
hand extends its influence far beyond
our sight or knowledge.
If we are in any degree damping the
hopes, thwarting the plans and discour
aging the endeavors of one who is strug
Cling to make them fruitful, We may bt
very sure that we are fighting against
the eternal principles of good. Ever
though the idea may be mistaken Ont
and the effort sure to fail. it is better
and kinder to let it die natural deatf
than to sti1e it prematurely.
PERSONAL popularity is one of the
most elusive questions. If we seek We
shall not find, or shall find only a coun
terfeit. Bacon Glove the mark when hi
said, men that WOO and affect honol
and reputation are commonly much
talked of but inwardly little admired.
The modest man is always popular be
fore he is aware of it; he realizes only
incidentally that few people care fol
him, and every fresh chance discovery
of good feeling gives him pleasure; but
if he begins to pursue the favor of 9th
ers as an objt tct. he enters upon thorny
path. Let, US be honest enough to fee
contented with being what We are anC
producing our natural effect on tht
the minds of those around ms without
having recourse to the stimulus of arti
fetal popularity.
MosT of the pain we inflict on other:
has its root either in selfshness and evi
passions or in ignorance and thought
lessness; and in either case its fruits art
bitter and poisonous, instead of sweet
and beneficent. OF course the worst OF
all such cases are those which spring
from intentional malice, hatred or re
venge. Vindictive cruelty, although
much subdued by advancing civilization
and the slow but steady growth of sym
pathy and intelligence, has not yet dis
appeared from our midst. Nor is il
wholly confined to the criminal classes
OF the records of our police courts. There
are stabs at character and reputation as
well as at life and property. There are
injuries planned. intended, and inflicted
that no law can touch and no power can
redress. AS long as the spirit of enmi
ty continues to throw its hideous shad
ows upon the hearts of men, so long will
there be grim pleasure taken in the
positive infliction of pain,
lost wealth may be restored by in
dustrious and frugal endeavor; wrecked
wealth may sometimes be regained by
temperance and self denial; forgotten
knowledge may be brought back by
earnest study; friends who have been
aiienated may be won again by assidu
GUS attention; forfeited reputation may
be measurably restored by penitence
humility, and fidelity but time lost is
lost forever. The moments that are
gone come back no more; the priceless
hours that have escaped Us in our list
lessness, our idleness. and our folly, nc
toll can win no wealth can purchase, no
effort can bring back. No prayers OF
tears or repentant sighs can give us that
which, when We had it. was idly cast
away. To day, God gives us time, and
with it opportunity. The precious gift is
in our hands, the past cannot be recalled,
the future cannot be foreseen. To NOR
row, of which we so often boast our
selves may never come to US. We dc
not live to morrow. We cannot find il
in title-deeds. The man who owns
whole streets of houses and great ships
on the sea does not own single min
ute of TO- morrow. It is a mysterious
possibility not yet born. 1t lies under
the sea of midnight. behind the veil OF
stars. Now, In the living pFFesnt, ia the
hour of probation, the opportunity fol-
improvement.