The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-04

When anything. that We have to DO. be-
cones A task OF a mere duty, II icses us
agreeablity and life. It not My does
not grow, nor expand. nor bear fruit but
il Will presently become positively OF
fensiye. and be dropped ard avoided.
We hate the sight or thought CT H. 4"al
which tie Almighty means that We snai
adopt and make a part or a habit or our
bodies or our souls. and which snail enter
into our being. he makes agreeable ana
pleasant. All tho ways Of wisdom are
pleasantness and peace. From our Nist
food to our last consolation sweetness
grace. and loving kindness bespeak the
presence Of God; are the flavor Of his
nearness.
II our daily food were not enticing
moro than half our race would star'e
All that makes for our perfection has a
foretaste CT its accomplishment. All
through life duty performed makes a
rainbow In the heart. A great poet says
Of religion:
How charming IS divine philosophy;
Not marsh and crabid, as dull fools sup
pose.
But musical as IS Apoilo's lutte
And a perpetual feast Of nectared sweets
Where no crude surfeit reisns.
Even adyersity's uses gre sweet; and
rest after the seyerest labors is Elysian.
It seems a great pity that our professors
and instructors Of youth should not De
more familiar with these important con-
siderations. Their first duty is &c make
knowledge. truth, and virtue agreeable
and acceptable 20 the young, and 90 make
them delight In high and honorable la
bors and acquisitions. % he o. she
who causes any heart 20 dislike anything
that is good or true or beautiful is a
great offender. And yet how many of us
have been made 10 hate excellent things
by having had them presented TO us in
an unpleasant way. or put on us as otious
tasks. To work fer a reward that has
nothirg 10 Go with OBJ. work itsei. i9 like
marrying for money: We lose thc money
and hate tie wife. So college nolo.s
may leave Us hating the courses of in-
struction. hating study, while we rejoice
IN grItined ambition. or. n the reward
IS ia money. 10 getting the gear.
IL IS a matter Of supremcst Importance
FOR both professor Or student 20 know
what they are neutrality-suspicious. they
are cultiyaung The love OF excellent
things. along with their powers. and
the JOY q exercising them; whether they
are feeding their SCOTS and maklng them
selves happy producers, or are making
them mere senseless performers Of tasks
and beasts OF burden. Every man VINO
has passed through school and college.
and towards the close OF life. as he looks
back upon his fellow students. sees how
this has been. The poor fellow. loaded
with college honors, the mere performer
OF tasks, has fallen on the way, wearied
and worn; fires gone out, energies fall
ed; or has dragged out a favcrless. love-
less lie. along the desert, the mirage fad-
Ing as he goes. On the other hand he
VINO has loved knowledge and truth and
virtue and manly effort Tor their own
sakes and has taken his daily WORK. not
Is tasks. but opportunities, rejoicing 10
put forth his powers. to achieve TO pos
eess and to know; his honors have not
been bestowed on him, but ale seen in
the glow. the enlightenment, the power OF
his onward course. going on from strength
TO strength. shining more and more TO
the perfect day. He has not ceased from
bearing fruit; his manly power and life
fresh, growing and charging TO the end.
senescit addiscens. lie improves with
ags