The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-05-27
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.
CoVET NOT ANoTHER'S PROS
PERITY.
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY "NEMO."
BY "NEMo. "
(Copyrighted.)

| (Copyrighted.)
To THE ENvIoUs How do you bet
ter yourself by coyeting the prosperity
of others? Do you not rather let loose
in your heart ravening wolves whose
teeth are whetted to tear down those
who run we'll? Many untoward things
have happened to you, doubtless, and
you feel sick at failures, but envy only
leads you further astray. Concentra-
ton upon your own affairs Zone of the
ways to success) Is impossible if youl
malevolent mind spends its strength in
estimating the seemingly unfair distrl-
button of worldly goods. The brighter
the sunshine, the darker the shadow,
and your heart would almost stand still
with dread could you see the gloom
along some of the ways you think SO
bright and happy. Tread serenely once
more your own way, holding life to be
proving place of merit, and at the
end there shall be peace.
10 BEwILDERED ONES :-Buffetted
by ill-winds, with faith shaken by mis-
cries that seem undeserved, you some
Gmes are tempted to cry out that life is
naught out chance and mischance.
But every analogy of nature Is against
you. There (and with you too) every
thing is concluded to be the result of
cause and effect. There is reason for
all that is happening to you, difficult
though 1t may be to discover it. Learn
from the scientist. In a number OF
sciences for instance, the study OF the
stars or the study of life, there is a
point reached beyond which the light
of reason fails and all becomes impene-
trable darkness. The scientist must
choose one of two ways, either conclude
that the origin OF things comes b.
chance, or that all is ordered and direct
ed by power beyond his ken. Which
seems to you the more reasonable? I
need hardly inquire Then let your
reason lead you to the same conclusion
in relation to your own problems.
To FRIENDLY Souls In ancient
Mythology the world was believed to
be held on the shoulders of Atlas. This
man OF mighty frame has his counter
part in these later years, and the fancy
of the anclents does not seem so very
remote, tor I see this grand old age
marked world rolling quietly along and
the most sustaining influence in it is
friendship. The unselfshness of those
who wish us we'll, out of pure goodness
of heart, keeps many toiler cheerfully
in his place. Gods yicegerents on
earth are the friends we have. When
tempted and tried, even before we turn
to God for guidance, our thought Is al
most invariably "What would dear
my friend think" You mag
nanimous ones, whose eyes are blinded
to our outer faults, but keen-yisioned
for the ideals and grandeur we are ca
pable of, still exert your power unspar-
ingly. The ways are hard and weary
stay not the precious influences that
help us to believe In good and in effort
and in ourselves.
To MINISTERS Let no man deprive
you of your right to take active part in
our country's affairs. You have the
right and the responsibility as we'll.
Bear with me for few lines in order to
see whether we agree.
The highest civilization Is undoubt-
edly that in which there is the readiest
interchange of advantages and oppor-
tunities among the members of the ma
ton. We not only boast of high CIV
ilization but we even dare to call our
selves "Christian." What is Christian
civilization? The reply must be made
that civilization, in order to be Christ
ian in any sense, must be one that, as
far as possible, from the highest to the
lowest, is actuated by Christian princi-
ples. If this be true then, there is, as
vet, little danger of our going too far in
such a direction. IN fact, glance
over our political life up to this time,
and consideration of the motives that
prompt many men into it is quite suf-
ficlent reason for our not yet even ap-
proximating the Christian standard. 1t
must be borne in mind that any fur
ther introduction of Christian princi-
ples into politics and business will nev-
er be made by those who oppose such
principles. The only hope that grad
ual bettering OF conditions and grad
nal moving of our civilization forward
Plum onary consumption, in its ear
" stages, may be checked by the use
of Ayers Cherry Pectoral. 1t stops
the distressing cough, sothes irritation
If tho throat and lungs, and induces