The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-01

or their prayers. This is not right.
Men seldom know what is best for them
In the long run, and frequently find that
what they most earnestly wished for
would have been . calamity instead Of
blessing, had 1t happened according
to their desires. 1t Is part OF the plan
of human existence that many expeo-
tations should not be realized, that dis
appointments should follow success, and
grief and pain succeed to happiness and
joy. II life for years were one contin-
ual round Of pleasure we might miss
much that often proves . source of
comfort and inspiration. We would
never know the fidelity Of friends from
tho strong tests of diversity. We
might glide smoothly along the river
Of life without reslizing the insincerisy
OF some who professed to be our warm
est well.wishers and most devoted
friends.
When the illusions, the shams and
hypocrisies Of those apparently dear to
us are exposed In later years we are un.
able to profit by such bitter experience
and sink beneath the weight of sorrow
and disappointment. whereas q severer
experience earlier In the realities of
life would have tempered our minds to
meet whatever fate has in reserve with
an equanimity and fortitude born of the
stern discipline to which our characters
had been subjected. II there was no
bitter the contrast with sweetness would
never be realized; were there no clouds
the sunshine would not appear half 30
bright, and without pain pleasure might
clog our lives. 1t Is easy to see the
weaknesses of an individual sometimes,
but 1t is only the toughest tests that
determine the stability of the strongest
characters.
The world in which we live is one of
Infinite change and variety, and 1t is
the essence OF the unknown that makes
effort continuous and gives zest and
earnestness to sill human pursuits. II
things always went according to our
wishes We would weary in success and
weaken without toll. The highest re-
wards are valuable because hardest TO
obtain and prize won without exertion
is easily lost. 1t Is because labor is
hard that work Is commended; hence Ii
Is that We value most those things
which COST the greatest effort to obtain,
and herein the wisdom of the Creator ia
manifest. When history is read the
greatest characters are most attractive,
as in looking over q landscape the
highest points are the frat to engage
our attention, while q closer inspection
reveals the beauties with which 1t is
adorned.
Thus, while life is made up of sue
cession OF joys and SORROWS, of hopes
unrealized and aspirations unat.ained,
the men who make their mark among
their fellows are those who have reached
eminence by steady and persistent.ex-
ertion. All the virtues that adorn their
characters are evolved from the pro-
cesses to which they were subjected
while travelling life's sometimes rugged
pathways. The very religion we profess
ia embodied in the life and death of the
Savior Of mankind, and the greas les
sons impaired show the Necessity Of
suffering If we would realize the grand
est conceptions Of human destiny. In
the short life Of that Savior we are
taught the necessity of patience,
humility, self-abnegation, faith. hope
and charity in order to attain unto the
glories and blessings of eternal exist
ence.
There we are shown the vanity of this
life as compared with that whioh is to
come, and that, in order to attain 9
happy hereafter we must be prepared
for sorrows and disappointments; but
while this is true VIC can also learn that
life Is more what we make 1t than what
we conceive 1t to be, and that If all
practice sho virtues laid down in the
scriptures. not only will death be de-
prived of It's terrors. but we will be
fitted and qualified for the enjoyment
of many blessings here which are not
apparent to those whose eyes sre blinded
by sel6shnesa and sin.
We'll Worth Preserving.
The silver medal won by Prfyate NJ