Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-09
SANDERS.
Crhe Observations OF a Philosophical
Friend OF OursD

CThe Observations OF n Philosophical
Friend OF Ours.)
The ant, measured by his own hand, is
ten spans long; but on the back OF the
bull where is he? We magnify and
minify ourselves by the standards 10
which we apply ourselves. We intoxlcate
ourselves with false ideas Of our size, or
degrade and make ourselves miserable by
unjust comparisons. We are all respect
able and honorable untfl we pose as
beggars or frauds; until we ask for credit
that we have no claim to or pretend
TO be what we are not. or what we were
never meant to be. Life liberty, and the
pursuit OF happiness. in the obedience TO
the Great God, whose service is perfect
freedom. make up the rights and business
OF humanity. To know how to maintain,
cherish. and effect them is the highest
wisdom. In that light we see light.
In the common world we are all pur-
blind: We see men as trees walking.
many sizes larger than they are; and, I'm
our timidity and decrepitude we are
afraid OF that which is high. taking the
commonest things for great, taking
drunkards for kings, and half worship
ping the stupidest OF asses for intellectual
prodgles This is the work OF youthful
o inebriety or the false glare OF the lying
world or that miserable darkness that
has obscured their race since its fall.
But the way OF darkness and ignorance
is TO make us estimate wrongly the
form, size. and value of things. We are
fooled to death. We don't know what
either llfe liberty, or happiness is. We
. all -
experience living death, servile liberty,
and miserable happiness. These frauds
and burlesques cover the world and make
up history. Men love to have It so.
1t is pitiful to see how men go to work
to make themselves miserable, and trade
OF for nothing the privileges Of nature.
Without positive standards OF what Is
good or true or beautiful; without being
able TO know what is what; without a
true and positive ideal OF our own, we
are made unhappy by every man who
wOrships and cries up his idol. Without
any special ideas OF the elements. the
qualities, the real yaluables OF manhood.
we are distressed and Inundated when
any one gets special praise. A man
brags OF big dinners. and our poor fare
seems very mean. Another boasts OF his
muscle, and we feel like fainting; an
other tells Of his great hits and winnings,
and our poor wages and slim salaries
look like starvation. O, how much OF
real misery comes OF this absurd way OF
measuring ours with others luck. and
Of trying ourselves by wrong standards!
Unauestionably there are true standards.
And the business OF the world, the flesh.
and the devil is to raise and to commend
to us false ones; false standards OF value,
OF happiness, of liberty, or life. When
the standard OF manhood was on trial
the heather judge proclaimed his own
bewiderment when he asked, What Is
truth? He whose being was the way
the truth, and the life was before his
eyes. and his darkened soul could not
recognize Him.
A great philosopher says that, as in
the beginning, the first day was given
TO the creation OF light so the first ef-
forts OF our lives should be given 10 the
discovery Of simple truths and principles
and axioms, TO the setting up In our
minds OF true standards OF excellence,
and OF lust weights and measures.
So we may be true and just TO ourselves
and others. So we may escape the COM
mon sin of bearing false witness against
ourselves and others. Ii is strange how
Ali studies of truth lead to the Saviour;
absolute manhood, the Son OF Man, equal
with God. And there humility and con-
fidence possess us. The gentle words
await US: Come unto Me, all we yhat
labour and are heavy laden, and will
give YOU rest. Ye shall know the Truth,
and the Truth shall make you free. In
Ne We shall have life.