Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-14

worked up into only an Indifferent ac-
tor or a playwright, while ne puts MN
self on record as lamenting his caliihg'
Like the dyer's hand. subdued TO mine
own art" And yet has there ever peeh
a man to desire that Shakespeare shouid
have been anything else but what ne
was? His morals might have been pet
ter: his life might have been happier
his position in society might nave peeh
higher. But might not his confinement
10 any calling, any condition, any course
have limited his experiences and obser-
vations and curtailed the lessons and
wonderful gifts he has left us?
The misfortunes and humiliations and
sufferings of a good man gave to man
kind the Book of Job. The weaknesses
and misdolngs of a great King gave us
the Book Of Ecceslastes. How strangely
has the Almighty used the weaknesses
of mankind TO accomplish great ends!
The myriad mindedness of the great poet
came of the infinite variety OF his expe-
riences. Ephriam, in his wretched idol
airy, was "a cake not turned. and
Israel was wine not poured from bottle
TO bottle, therefore settled on his lees.
Because they had no changes. therefore.
they feared not God-were very imper-
feet
Cervantes's experiences were probably
little more varied than Shakespeare He
was a soldier, a prisoner, a slave, real
estate dealer, a lucky man, and a pauper.
He saw human life in all its phases, and
felt all its changes. And he has given us
a work acre perennius' that, like Ho-
races. will long outlast the government
of which he was an humble citizen.
1t is certainly true that the human race
is made up of many men OF many minds;
that organized society involves many and
divers services, duties, and offices to be
performed and fulfilled and filled by in
dividuals, by nature and training made
and qualified for those special services,
duties, and offices. The Almighty gives
each one Of US our divers gifts and quail
fcations, making us mutually dependent,
members one Of another. And we are best,
most honorable, most efficient, and nao-
piest doing our duty in that state Of life
in which He has placed US. So society
goes on with its chores. its lowly callings,
its trades, its arts. its professions, its
high and responsible offices. AS organs
and members, all these together make up
the full and complete man. A whole is
made up Of all its parts; and part Is less
than whole. That is automatic.
The stone which the builders disallowed
and rejected could not b, adjusted and
used while the parts were being put to- |
gether. 1t Was not an ordinary block. II |
was not commonplace; it was peculiar; |
sui generis. But presently its time came. |
The stone which the builders rejected be- |
came the head of the corner. the pinnacle. !
the capstone of the pyramid.
Now, in the ordinary course OF life, we |
count 1t very bad thing for any one 10 |
sink the man in the business, whatever |
Ii be; whether TO be a mere mechanic. |
trader, politician, or professional OF any |
sort; to mean business and nothing else: |
TO talk shop" or for ones conversation |
to flavor OF an ordinary occupation. The |
ideal English nohleman is a very high |
type OF man; whole as the marble. found
ed as the rock. broad and general as the
casing air; the capstone Of creation.
High and large manhood Is his great idea.
We cannot all be financially independent.
We cannot ali be occupied in affairs OF
government, OF science, art philosophy,
Or the general good, but we can all
cherish ideal manhood-we can set the
cultivation OF virtue before US as the
thief business of life and make every
hing else subordinate 10 II. Every indi-
iidual man may have his special adapta-
ion and affinity. But every individual
nan Is put Up after the divine image and
or an immortal life. His calling is a
school of virtue. and his business is 10
slorify the Supreme Ruler In his work
which men behold. The great business OF
ife is the perfection Of manhood. And
III the occupations and experiences OF
life are preparatory to that great end.
The schools and schoolmasters which pre-
Jared Shakespeare and Cervantes (who