Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-06-09

obstacles to which his or some other
hand might brush away and disclose.
When he, with arrogant tread, as
sumes spurious ownership he is quick
| ly deposed, and the heart of his fell
low entertains but little sympathy and
hands move slowly to his assistance
when in actual need.
| have no doubt. YOU have met nv
neighbor whose household or pos
sessions are so complete and finished
that one almost feels after having
viewed them he owes the proud owner
a stipend for the privilege of viewing
| the eXhibitiou-and he is instructed,
too, concerning the imperfections and
| drosS to be found in the community
around about. All others are but
meagre limitations, his the only gen
uine. Aside from the disgust we feel
over these childish assumptions. which
always set meanly on the shoulders
OF age, we are moved also to feeling
of pity over the senseess bigotry and
the uncharitable attitude he takes to-
ward his neighbors, and as conse-
| quence his achievements, be they ever
so plaudtory and worthy really of dis
| tinction, dwindle into insignificance
and receive less praise, perhaps, than
| they deserve. 1t is commendable to
regard our talents and qualifications
with confidence sufficient to perform
work in an approved and even in an
enviable form, but when we contem-
/ plate the result, let conceit be govern.
| ed, and our sef-appreciation at least
admit the possibility of equality IN the
workmanship of others.
| My neighbor. then, is weighed and
given full credit for what he knows.
his Importance rises no higher than it
| deserves, and. be his hide ever so thick
and taut, the shafts of criticism will
penetrate it. He simply fills his place
in the economy of existence.
The accident of high birth and the
sudden falling into luxury and wealth
! by Inheritance, or "luck." always fas-
clnates the less fortunate and weaves
around the recipient a circle of prestige
/ and power beside which the acquired.
| the nobiy striven for receives smaller
notice. Perhaps we may pardon the
arrogance and lack of principle often
! found in these 'fortunates, since it
has been induced and nurtured by the
aduation and homage given to them.
/ SO that while we censure, let us tenn
| per our remarks with the spirit of
| justice. There are few, ] dare say
none who would refuse the gift of
wealth, be it in fabulous or ordinary
| quantities. All is thankfully received
and regarded us "a streak of excellent
luck" But here comes the rub we
are under certain obligations to each
other, Notwithstanding the oft-reiter-
ated avowal Of my neghbor of his per-
feet freedom from bonds of any kind.
/ Indeed, it seems the world is his debtor
wholly.
The man with money wiel6s. or has
the opportunity Of welding Il power
| full, a far-reaching influence in the
worlds great workshop, and it is his
! duty to his fellow-man to turn it into
| those channels from which the greatest
! good can be derived for him and all.
| if ever there is a time in a mans life
when judgment, discretion, integrity
and love, beside any other virtue to
! which he may lay claim and cultivate
to their best and purest state, 1t /,
when wealth and power are his
to divert whittier he wills
TO the patient and conscientious
| searcher after true knowledge there is
no such claim as absolute and I'M
| questionable certainty. Practically,
he may demonstrate Il theory to be
| thus and so, but exceptions arise for
which he must make notifications,
and. finally, after all illumnations and
deductions have been made, he still
/ looks upon the product with feeling
akin to suspicion as to whether he may
approve of it. He is not deferred,
however. from improving. 'Progress"
and "onward' are words which he has
set as stars shining brightly in the
ornament, and to which he directs his
efforts. lie Is never found tagging
behind. caresslng Il pet theory which
he has trumpeted to the world as the
only reliable and bedrock solution,
but ever is he found in the vanguard,
throwing aside this or that theory or
long-cherished opinion because he has
proven it a fallacy. If tomorrow he
finds 1t necessary to relinquish an an
nounced belief he does it bravely and
without conjunction. If Tomorrow
again he sees ineongruitv he as fear
lessl y renounces it. Thus the world
has progressed and is advancing
/ Stedully toward lnt pelltctlOIi Vi me
finite and laying hold upon the mys-
terles of the Infinite.
II the originator Of the steamship
had regarded his incipient ideas as
being impracticable the old and new
world could rot to-day hold such
pleasing and personal communication.
If the inventor Of the locomotive had
given ear to the voice of disparage-
ment, and had not quelled the oft
rising thought of possible failure had
pronounced it unfeasible after imma-
ture effort, the nation to which we lay
such proud claim would not to-day be
fused into one vast family with Il
mutual interest in the common well
fare. In short, if every art. if every
science had been left to the Indifferent
and hide bound bigot to develop-who
sees dimly the possibilities IN every
thing and sets his verdict of incredulity
and disbelief on every project not
capable of being comprehended by
him, we should still be walking in the
gloom and uncertainty of the Middle
Ages, when the light of knowledge
only glimmered here and there through
almost impenetrable darkness What
a world of pleasure and unceasing de-
| light the bigot deprives himself of
1t is not enough to say this is thus
and so it cannot be otherwise" or
| "there is no truth in the theory-lt is
a chimera-a foolish fancy" By so
saying we only deprive ourselves of