The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-01-20


in many that have gone before"
Well, let us talk it over, for /
know too well what it is to mourn over
bad executive after good intention, trn.
ing results after great purposes and
igncble acts after high ideals. Two things
are holding you back: you regret the
wasted past and lose heart because OF it,
you are careless in the present because
you and its duties seem Insignificant to
yourself.
-
AS with the slow boy in class, whose
chance to spell has passed him before
he knows 1t has reached him, so it is
with us. The hurrying years tarry for
nothing We are not afflicted with a
feeling uncommon to men, when we rub
our eyes to see il it is fact that whole
year has passed since the blare of horns
frightened off the ghost Of 1895. All the
generations before us have felt the same
alarm Yet the past and the present
are filled with lives that have accom-
plished much, though subject to the
same onrush Bear in mind then for
your encouragement, that what has been
done can be done again.
-.
They accomplish most, who spend no
time repinning at circumstances. See
ing things around them to be done, they
take hold and do them well, Just because
they come next to hand. l verify believe
the secret OF all true greatness is found
in faithfulness to the present duty no
matter how small or insignificant.
Peter Cooper made good glue and from
small beginnings grew great, used his
greatness well; and the glue-maker
ranks high among the worlds philan-
thropists. Even as the catapiller in
physical sense comes to the wider, freer
sphere by doing the things necessary to
growth day by day, so shall We in
moral sense To be faithless end COM
planning over little duties is certainly no
guarantee that greater duties will be
better dore. While it is not fair to say
that all faithful ores become prominent
it is fair to say that patient, out-of-sight
work must be done to ensure prominence
of lasting character Humanity itself
is our teacher; twenty-five years of
bodybuilding pass before we are mature
enough to stand the strain of real life.
-.
We must try to take saner view OF
life Then can We understand that the
little acts make up in large part the
worlds progress. Thus will our own
work take its proper dignity. A few
great deeds show forth in history here
and there but built OF them only the
worlds total gain would s'aud up like
the naked steel frame OF lofty building.
As a matter of fact, clustered around
every monumental deed are innunerabIe
small ones that have been we'll done and
that have made the greater deed posi-
BILE. No general ever wins with an army
of dissiiected soldiery. No wide stretch
ing bridge is built merely by the mind
of the engineer, to his aid is brought the
sullen strength of stone and iron that
winter, in and out will steadily do its
work. No great onward step is taken in
any country unless there is an upheaval
of public opinion. You and |, obscure
ones, are public opinion. We are in all
great progr, 50 if spirit of progress is in
us just as the boiler is thing of power
because OF the steam within and the
steam is thing OF power because OF the
boiler without.
-
Pray mourn no more over your hidden
state. Do your "little" and do it well.
Then whether you come to greatness or
not, you can not be robbed of one great
thing, the real usefulness OF your life. 1t
needs but few words to remind you
that our great nation is like huge body,
with interdependent parts. Let me
emphasize your possible importance
from your own bodies. A drop OF blood,
moving hither and thither in your veins
is small thing Yet your health as a
whole is closely related to its duty-doing.
1t carries oxygen from the lungs, or
nourishment from the stomach and the
intestines; then gives that up some-
where-brightens the eyes, perhaps, or
strengthens the brain. Once more it
loads itself; this time with the poisons
that come from wasted muscles and
nerves and for your maintenance in
health, it discharges those poisons in the
breath you exbale, or the secretions
that leave the body-then dear men,
dear woman, disappointed often. perhaps
neither eye nor brain Of this great
country; may you not possibly be a
globule of its most essential blood, or
minute lung cell, working to save it
from wasting consumption, weakness Of
character, loss OF liberty. Furthermore,
il within you is working the high motive
OF good will to your race because OF
some fragmentary understanding OF
the good will of the All.Father to you,
then in truth, need not your heart be
troubled because OF the little things you
do. When sturdy legs come hurrying
in the door, and a little pudey fist grssps
tight withered dandelion, or tattered
daisy that has been carried long way