The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-10-16
TO-DAY.
simple, Hut Very Significant Legend
| --To-Morrow's Life II Too Late.

The writer of this. when once travel
ing among the hills OF Asia Minor, was
interested TO note n motto which hung
in frame on the walls of a humble Ar
menian dwelling in which he was en-
tertained one night. 1t consisted of
two words in Armenian which in Eng
lish makes practically one wordS-~to-
dayl" He has often thought of that
motto since. 1t was simple legend,
but very significant one. IL wouldbe
well II such bit of counsel were framed
in every home, or at any rate, in every
heart.
To-day" II you have any good thing
10 do, do IL to-day. There is no better
time. OF tomorrow we know nothing.
We may have hopes Of IL, but IL is not
here yet, and may never come. With re-
spect to the past we can do nothing.
except 10 repent OF IL whereinsoever IL
has been wrong and unworthy. But
the present is the royal. the rich, the
promising season. Whatever oppor-
tunity we have always comes to-day.
To-day is the bridge by which we pass
from the past TO the future, and. there
AOAtf VIC NOulO w NNAA W AOOh
10 our manner Of transit over IL. The
safest repentance for the past is that
which proves It's sincerity by making
amends in the present; and the surest
guarantee that we will do our duty in
the future Is to do IL here and now.
But how many people seek 10 live
either In the past or the futurel And,
truly, this may seem at times to be the
cheapest thing 10 do. But that is really,
the hardest method in the end, for.
finally, the misdeeds OF the past over
take the procrastinator while the neg
lected duties of the present SO heap up
as 10 spoil all enjoyment Of future days
as one by one they arrive in hand. Pro
crastination is the thief of time" and
OF more besides. He thieves strength
and wit and courage also, and, finally,
robs one of all peace and hope.
Martial truly taught long ago: To
morrow's life Is too late; live to-dayl"
A Spanish proverb warns us that by
the road OF By-and-by one comes TO
the house OF Never" IL Is just because
of this tendency OF mankind 70 squan-
der to-day in a spendthrift fashion with
kind OF vague, wild hope that to-
morrow would make things right that
so many urgent duties have gone un-
done, so much needless suffering has
been inflicted on fellow mortals, and
so many sins of omission have been laid
up to the account of such triflers and
sluggards. Through procrastination
we may say il has come about that the
most Of human history has never hap
pened.
IT is probably true that few, II any.
really understand the value of to-day"
"In to-day" says Coleridge, already
walks tomorrow" And by losing the
chances of the moment many before us
in history have involved themselves or
others in some difficulties. IL was
said of Hannibal, who lackeda certain
kind of positive persistent energy, that
he knew how to win victory, but not
how thereafter TO use IL. The French,
IL appears, were defeated at the battle
OF Waterloo through the lack OF push OF
Marshal Ney, the bravest OF the brave,
who went intocamp thatspot when
he might by greater activity have pre-
ington, and the English themselves,
through Blpcher's delay, came very
near being overwhelmed on that famous
field. When Washington's army eyac-
uatod New York, Lord Howe lost the
chance OF routing Gen. Putnam's d.
vision because for two hours he turned
aside from the pursuit TO discuss the
excellent viands OF Mrs. Robert Muir
ray, whose house stood on the confines
of the city. But sadder example OF
the evils of procrastination comes TO
us from ancient Greek history. A plot
had been formed against the life OF
Archias, polemarch of Thebcs. Sud-
denly there arrived In the room where
Archlas was feasting n letter from a
friend In Athens containing detailed in
formation as to the whole plot. The
messenger said: "Thc person who sent
this desired that IL might be read inn
mediately, for it contains business of
great Importance" But Archins put
the letter under the bolster OF his couch
unread, with the short remark: "Busi-
ness tomorrow" That night he was
sssassinated. II we have any business
with man or God, to-day Is the best time
TO attend TO IL. business tomorrow"
has ruined many soul. Now 10 the
accepted time, now Is the day Of saliva
tion."-C. A. S. Dwight, in n. Y. OBJ
server.