The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-14
MAKING TUE MARK.

Some years ago an old gentleman ABOUT
here, who was dear lover OF honor and
glory. had the Ill luck TO die; but he had
the good luck, feet-foremost, 10 be escort
ed to Hollywood with an immense display
OF soldiery. A mutual friend OF ours.
standing near as the procession passed
by, remarked 10 us sympathetically:
what a pity the old captain couldn't
look out and take peep at all that?
In the spirit of the French woman in
the siege Of Paris, as she licked the
stewed remains of her pet dog: Pauvre
petit Fidol If he were only here. how he
would enjoy these bones!'
In a thousand ways. whether in grim
satire or in solemn conviction, the human
soul avouches its immortality. and enters
its solemn protest that this brief life is
but the portal to an intelligent beyond.
1t seems absurd for n man to enjoy the
prospect of fine funeral, an elegant
obituary or editorial notice or the conso-
lation Of "a splendid send off," but the
fixed and essential confidence OF continu-
ing life alone gives responsibility to
these seeming absurdities. We may light
EN- our fears Of judgment, but we cannot
kill out the consciousness of survival be-
yond the grave.
And so 1t is that the desire to make our
our mark on or in the passing age Is not
only common, but is accepted as hon.
To hox,
stage as a breath or shadow and left no
impression-as IL we had not been-no
memorial of our existence-to be marked
.;ero-Is painful to think OF. 1t Will be a
bad thing to remember in the higher
sphere; may have to be accounted for;
there will be no interest for US In this old
place and people from the other side.
Well. whether 1t be for the satisfaction
Of serving God and man. as one of a III
vine family. or being honored and blest
that we should desire to make a mark in
the world. Absolute insignifcance, to
near. stand for, indicate or impress moth
ing. is a nttle too little for any one to
and arrant folly is committed merely for
the sake of being seen and felt.
Blessed are they whose escape from
insignificance is In the direction of duty.
honor. and the public good, and whose
desire Is 10 leave mark pointing IN
the right direction. or suggestive OF
wholesome ideas.
The general world Is not. by any means.
marl-so an individual makes one show
ing that he is neither too soft, smooth. or
pointless to make one. But uneasiness
about making orr mark may be dismissed.
We al make our marks and We can no
more avoid making them than we can
aVoid ie,sains cur tracka on the snow.
lge only concern Is What shan ;hey bef
A little on 10 lfc. N mature Sgc our
reamcnts. our contour. our saits. be
came weA-de1nca and nxed And with
lRe same dihni'ensss our dispositions, our
characters. our likes and disl,kes. the
ri &c Of our thoughts. our vocabularies.
Many Of US exl ress or stand for a word
or two. The best of rs are only neatly
bound volumes. But FOE even these.
word or two sufhces FIR title. A virtue
or vice. a grace or an uginess. makes
up the sum Of our lives. Aud these are
the marks we make.
We may write books. we may accom-
plish wonderful deeds. we may maze
fortunes. and achieve notoriety. we may
found institutions. and yet they are not
the mark that We have made Our mark
has been developing quietly. steadily. and
II IS well-known; and 1t is plainly written
on them all. Our brand IL imprinted
The Divinity that shapes our ends gives
form and expression and meaning to
everything that comes from our hands
ard h ads and hearts. The motive and
character and style Of the man Is written
all over his life and works. as distinctly
as the character OF God on the heavens
Ills handiwork. and His mercy and wis
dom on all His works. And Il u quality.
not quantity. that gives US praise II IL
the motive Of essential kindness and up-