The record-union., 1898-02-13
SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS.
BY "Nemo."

(COpyrlghted by Dave & Tabor.)
Eagerness to look at the outer appear
ance of great man Is no real compli-
ment to his work. Willingness to take
of his message and live it is more 20
be praised. By way Of illustration, let
me cite Christianity. AS the centur-
les increase in number behind us, the
vital strength of Christianity seems Il
do not write of creeds but of deeds) to
increase And 1 doubt not that the
worlds workers, who have learned from
The Great Worker, care less and less
for His personal appearance; since
were we to behold Him as He was, like
enough we should see but little cause to
admire Him. A mans work is more
to be needed than his face. And we
gaping ones who would run hither and
thither just TO "see,' advertise that we
as yet understand but little of what
influence really means. Like those
who gaze upon Gagged lions, are we who
gather to stare at famous thinkers
we have our reward; we are disap-
pointed in both lions and men, for they
are out of their proper setting.
And those who, having aided the
thought of the day, straightway initiate
the freaks of the museums, showing
themselves at every public place, have
their reward also-they are seen, their
work is judged by their facial or phys
ical insignifcance (for great thoughts
are no necessary product of magniti-
cent brows or herculean bodies), and
they are on the way to the land of for
gotten things. Better to live unknown
and leave a message for all time here
after, than to kill time and influence
by idle paradings of self.
The silent infiuence"-what a world
of satisfaction there is in the idea, It
brings us all in as one in the onward
work of the world. The silent infiu-
ence," soft as a snow flake, gentle as
summer zephyr. despised as an earth
worm, unheeded as a blade of grass, is
what is doing the work of the world.
Mightier than monarchs is the quiet
thought of the people, passing from
hamlet to hamlet and growing as it
passes; more enduring than mountains
are the personal and national virtues
that are quietly and silently taught and
lived by unknown men and women;
more persistent than death are the
silent works done generation after gem
Grafton by the humble and unseen
done because they We're right to be
done. and not because they were to be
either seen or praised of men.
Humble ones everywhere, the silent
influence" and a knowledge of its gram
deur in all history, all progress, all
morals-makes the humblest of us
humble ones proud to live and eager
for more of the patient plodding to
which we have hitherto been confined
We are part of the great human body,
as much as the invisible oxygen in us
is part Of us, and Ike 1t we are exer-
cising a definite influence for good in
our race. no matter how small or in
significant may be our effort towards
wisdom and righteousness of life.
Purpose in life is like the sunshine
that comes over the hills to make the
way clear after night Of doubt and
wandering / am not surprised that
many people find existence altogether
too confusing and give up in despair. 1t
is because they get into the maze of life
and lose hold upon the one thread that
will guide them out into freedom--that
thread is purpose. Likely the early al
chemists who always had one thing
lacking when they tried to transmute
metal, many of us are seeking the phil
ospher's stone that shall turn to fine
gold the days and hours that are al
lotted to us. Failure follows failure,
failure lives with US. failure nauseates
US because the one thing lacking is pur-
pose Good. sincere, honest purpose is
| more to be desired than great riches,
and stronger to sweep difficulty out
of the way is IL than muscle. But the
possession of clear purpose does not
necessarily mean that all difficulties
will disappear. Such are good for US