The mirror., 1895-08-15
REAL HAPPINESS.


n.....,...,.."
Every inmate in this institution is
counting the days, and no doubt has
one fixed in his mind, when his incar-
ceration will cease and when he will go
forth into the world again free man
to choose the place which he thinks is
best adapted for him. That day, we all
claim, shall be a happy one for us, and
oh. how our hearts yearn for that wei
come hour to come. But first let us stop
and think minute and see what our
idea of happiness is. Some, no doubt,
are thinking of this time as day when
they will meet erstwhile friends and
with them proceed to have so called
''good time" We have all been there
quite frequently, so we evidently are
aware what this good time consists of.
But if we get right down and analyze
it we will find we have been deceived
and instead Of having enjoyed ourselves
we have only been muddling our brains
and wasting our money. Whatever
object we have had in view, whatever
resolution made, is then neglected and
soon we are found in Strengthened cir
cumstances, and-to use the familiar
phrase-we are broke Real happiness
does not exist there. We cannot eX-
pect to leave this place and Immediately
secure remunerative position, hence
we need the money we receive at the
gate to help tide us along until we find
some suitable occupation. COmpetl-
tion these days is brisk in the laboring
world, and even though we have friends
to help us it may take some time before
we secure a position. BY Immediately
squandering our good time money we
shall soon find ourselves almost as mis-
cradle as we have been here and then
there is no telling what we may do.
Boys, we can never be happy living that
way. Real happiness lies in the very
opposite direction. The best rule to
follow when we leave here is to go home
} if we have one on earth. A mother
or a wlfe's presence has much to do to-
ward making better men of us and
to help us forget the past. After we
have enjoyed the unalloyed happines OF
freedom a few days, we should get a
: hustle on ourselves and find situation
by all means Then, by being straight
forward and by showing society that
we are determined to live down the
past and regain our lost estate, we shall
: escape the frOwns of our enemies. Ii
l seems to me that society is ever ready
to forget and forgive the past, wher
!. our mott yes to live an honorable life II
!; the future, are observed. Those who
. have read "The Scarlet Letter canno
f deny this fact. In that letter we SET
: the harsh and severe Puritans arraye(
J, against Hester Prynne. Yetin shor
e time we find them calling her "Ou
e Hester" and pointing at her many goo(
h deeds instead of her one bad act.
e There is still another point which i
l. scarcely of less Importance toward rea
e happiness than earning an honest liv
e ing, and that is to save a portion of ou
daily earnings. Anyone can get bool
q from some reliable savings bank an
l. there deposit a part of his earnings
" Those who have never tried this, do no
O know the feeling of genuine indeper
"a dence this habit will engender in pei
n son. A thorough practice of these fey
# suggestions, if perseveringly followed
, will bring about the desired object an
IS fill every heart with the spirit of res
happiness. Z. l.. NJ.