The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-04
LOOK WITHIN.
Shut Out the World.
Nem York Heraid.

a microscope and look ont their souls
with the sharp eyes Of critical analysis.
Self-examInation is a prime duty,
which we either neglect altogether or
perform with reluctance.
To use blunderirg bit OF rhetoric
in order to illustrate this statement, our
estimate of ourselves is so different |
from what we really are that we could |
pass ourselves on the highway without
a nod Of recognition.
If we knew ourselves thoroughly we
should work with more economy Of en-
ergy and to far better purpose.
IF we knew what we are best adapted
to do, and had an inventory OF the
mental and moral material in our pos
sion to do 1t with, there would be fewer
signs and less heart breaking.
Calm, quiet, relentless examination,
however. Is the most irksome task
which we ever set ourselves, and we
gladly avail ourselves of every excuse
to avoid it.
The simple truth is we have Turk
ing suspicion that we are not as large
or as faithful or as strong Or as noble as
we like to think ourselves, and we rath-
er fear to look into the matter lest our
suspicious should be corroborated.
We enjoy the flattery or the impul-
siye praise OF our friends and try to
persuade ourselves that the praise Or
hattery is deserved.
In word, it is a universal fault that
we prefer to see ourselves through a
magnifying glass, and have no desire
to know the exact truth.
When contractor undertakes to
build a house his first business is to
find out whether the necessary timber
and stone are within reach. He has
the plan of a house always in mind,
and so knows what he must do and
what he has to do 1t with Each of his
laborers has tool chest, and If any one
should apply for work not having the
proper tools, he would be treated with
-corr,f,,l contempt. In practical life,
when one wishes to earn his living, he
must know his trade and have at hand
him an available artisan. Nothing
could be more absurd than for man
to apply for work as carpenter or ma
son who was ignorant of his ability to
do what he is to be paid wages for do
ing
The same rule applies when we are
engaged i'll building a character The
wise man is a student He knows wha1
elements 90 to make up character
and whether he is in possession OF those
elements, or, if not, whether it is posi-
BILE to develop them, and whether ;
Character is worth the sacrifices whicr
must be made IN order to construct it
All this self examination is his coup
ment, and when he has reached his
conclusions he can work intelligently
and successfully.
If he is foolish man-and most O
us are foolish in this respect-he Meth
er knows much about the material il
his own soul, with which he is to dc
his work, nor the plan according t.
which he is to shape his life, and as ;
consequence has no defniteness of pur
pose and wastes his energies, for If h,
begins with ignorance he is apt to enc
with disappointment
See the wrecked lives scattered alons
the shores of time, What more pa
thetc picture can be conceived thai
that of man who has made the wors
of himself? His early hopes and am
billions, like the timbers of stranded
vessel, lie bleaching in the sun. TIL,
waves that break on the beach sount
like dlrge, and you can hear in tn,
air the tolling of bells. Why has th
misfortune befallen? In most case
because he had no high aim and wa
governed by impulse rather than con
viction. If he had known himseI
more accurately, his life would not b
the tragedy it is.
What can we do, then, to keep our
selves from making these fatal mis-
takes? Here is q very practical cues