The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-07

struggle 10 the making of us; but to save
from disaster by giving to struggle
natural and wise direction. do not de-
legitimate labor, hardship, trial or suffer
Ing incident to the common lot OF man
kind; for / know that these are
the divinely ordained means OF
much OF their best educationi
but do desire that their striving should
be, not to get out Of a mud-hole, but to
climb the mountain mot to overcome FOLLY
and sin, but to avoid these by resisting
temptation, and to gain the worthy ends
OF life by attaining to enlightenment,
virtue and the strength OF we'll balanced
chareeter. And what could wish and
plan for my children could equally de-
Ire for my young friends-not an easy
lie, but q true life; by which j mean, a
life guided by a clear and noble purpose,
and filled with an earnest and exalted
spirit Could impsrt these to them,
should feel that were rendering them
the best service In my power; for, given
these, the processes OF Nature In her sure
dealings with them may be trusted TO
lead them into all other good results. Hut
without these two things, clear and
noble purpose, and an earnest and exault-
ed spirit, little can be done for any young
man or woman by friends, or books, or
schools, or churches, or any other infiu-
ences, nothing can be done except to try
by whatsoevre agencies to generate Just
these inner qualities which are the in
despensable potencies OF all achievement.
You can't make a watch go IL II hasn't
any handspring.
"The primary need, then, is that
wholesome degree OF am Dition and appre-
citation should be reused In the hearts OF
young people. Ambition comes first and
by natural impulses; thanks to the con-
al tutinn n The human qnuI IN nearly
always mapifests some aspiration, some
and upward-looking
desire. At least the average healthy boy
or girl usually wants 10 amount TO some
thing; and there is little TO fear from too
great a strength in this want; i would
give more for the boy who is conceited
enough to think he can 40 some great
thing than for one who doesn't care 10
try. Life takes the conceit out Of most
Of US in due time; but oh, what shall
put ambition, high aim, noble resolve,
into a soul that has none in the days OF
its youth, or looses il all before the mid
die of man hoods career? 1t is true that
false or misdirected ambition has
wrought vast ruin in our world; but
better this than the sluggishness or sleep
that moves nothing and achieves nothing
because IL desires nothing.
appreciation comes more slowly, aud
by education. You cannot appreciate
what you cannot measurably understand =
as q book, discourse, selection OF
music. So II is impossible TO appreciate
life and the world until one has had ex-
perience enough to taste of its bitter and
its sweet. But most young men and
women have had this, in a considerable
degree, in childhood and early youth;
and they ought to be prepared, as they
stand facing the questions and tasks OF
their approaching maturity, TO under
stand something OF the serious, the beau
tiful, the glorious significance of the
earthly career of human being. At any
rate, / would try to befriend them by
endeavoring to point out TO them such
significance, in order that the great in
spiration which it gives may kindle a
holy flame upon the altar OF their hearts
to illumine and ssnctify their lives.
First 1 would ask all young people to
try to appreciate their privileges. These
are not quite the same as those belonging
to any other preiod. and they ought to
give Joy and strength TO the possessors OF
them.
81. 1t is your privilege, my young
That is to say, il Is natural and easy for
you TO be optimistic-to take a hopeful
and cheerful view Of life. Pessimism
ought to have no place in your thought
and feeling. The world should be filed
with the roseate hues OF morn for you.
Co DuOlant Dt iOuI cphtcs ~
inviting should seem the future, so wei
come should sound the bugle notes call
ing you to strenuous endeavor, that no
touch Of sadness or dependency should
be able to harass you. 1t may not be SO
twenty-five or fifty years hence; then,
after the warfare is nearly over. when
you are returning from the field OF battle
on which you may have suffered defeat,
or received wounds whose scars will
brand your body as long as you live, the
blows OF hardship or sorrow may shatter
your soul more readily than now. But
now you are young and strong, and the
morning sky is redolent with promise,
the long day Is before you, and you can
spring to the waiting conflict with all
the alacrity Of your being, ready to strike
telling blows for truth and Righteousness.
Now Is the time to charge your heart
with a valiant faith, believing that the
world is good, that God is good, that
labor and strife are blessing instead Of