The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-01-09

people to heaven. IS not the klnu
that goes around Dragging on itself
1t is strange that. of all possible
tasks, simply to be what we are
should prove not the easiest. but
infinitely the hardest.
There is a care for trifes which
proceeds from love Of conscience
and is most holy; and a care for
trihes which comes of idleness and
friyolitv. and Is most base.
Say nothing respecting yourself,
either good. bad, or Indifferent.
nothing good. for that IS vanity:
nothing bad, forthat is atfectatlon;
nothing Indifferent. for that isslily.
We take our ideas from sounds
which folly has invented: fashion.
bon ton, and virtue are the names
of certain idols to which We sacri-
fee the genuine pleasures OF the
soul. I'm this world of resemblance
we are contented with personatlng
happiness II to feel it is an art be-
vond us.
True happiness is of retired
nature. and an enemy to pomp and
noise: it arises in the first place
from the en- oyment of one self,
and. in the next. from the friend
ship and conversation Of a few Sc
fect companions. False happiness
loves to be in a crowd and to
draw the eyes of the world upon
her. She does not receive any
satisfaction from the applause
which she gives herself. but from
the admiration which she raises
in others.
1t is very common for young
men nowadays to study how little
they can make suffice III the way
.of the labor they perform tor their
employers. rather than how much
they can possibly do to render
themselves useful. We say this is
common now. and we suppose it
d " iN = HAS ttCll oNiflIliN1is Dul
We think it will be found on exam
nation never TO have been the
course pursued by men who in aft
,or-life became distinguished for
their success. Such men worked
for their employers as afterwards.
when they got into business on
their own account, they worked
for themselves.
Addison SAYS: Il have always
preferred cheerfulness to mirth.
The latter | consider as an act, the
former lis a habit of the mind.
Mirth is short and transient, cheer
fulness fixed and permanent. Those
are often raised into the greatest
transports of mirth who are sub
lect to the greatest depression of
melancholy: on the contrary, cheer
fulness. though it does not give
che mind such All exquisite glad
Ness, prevents us from falling into
=4nv depths of SORROW. Mirth is
like flash Of lightning which
breaks through a gloom Of clouds
and glitterS for a moment: cheer
fulness keeps up a kind Of daylight
III the mind, and fills it with ii
steady and perpetual serenity
Good example is an unspeakable
kpnnetit to mankind. and has a Sc
<.ret power of influence upon those
with whom We converse, to form
fhem into the same dispositionand
manners: it is a living rule. that
teaches men without trouble. and
let them see their faults without
apen rrproofand upbraiding. Be
sides that. it adds great weight to
a man counsel when we see that
he advises nothing but what he
does. nor exacts anything from
others from which he himself de-
,sires to be excused AS. on the
contrary. nothing is more cold OF
insignificant from bad man. one
shat does not obey his own pre-
-,epts. nor follow the advice which
he is SO forward to give to others
There are thoughts which I'M
press themselves upon the mino
rs new truths. and which sometimes
amount to convictions. There are
possible solutions to veXed prob
lems of society which dawn upo1
the mind with unwonted clearness
and light. There are dreams anC
hopes and ideals that visit some O.
rs, and seem to promise great gooC
and happiness to the world coulC
they only be fulfilled. We have
no right to neglect these sugges
lions, to drive them from ou
thoughts under the plea that WI
are too busy to deal with them O
l. h