The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-11-10
WORLDLY AIMS.
Never Bring the Truest Culture-HOw
the Spiritual Perceptions
Are Blunted.

with worldly aims and views moth
ing really great was ever yet accom-
plished." These words came to my
mind as l heard a young woman ex-
claim: my desire in life is to be a
thoroughly cultured woman. One can
not hope to be a power in society in
anything, these days, unless she is"
A cultured woman-a consummation
TO be wished for truly, consumma-
ton worthy of all striving. But with
ignobe aims as the animating power,
the very efforts to gain the end must
result in their own defeat; for with
each attainment will these aims harden
and crystallize and become more and
more a part Of ones self, until at last
all true culture is as far removed from
the being as is the east from the west.
A veneer may be attained, it is true,
which will deceive the shallow, but it
will ring true;" and the discerning
soul will turn with relief from such
one, be her outward accomplishments
and graces what they may, to the hum
blest person who is simple and genu-
inc.
How impossible it is for one TO grow
in the spiritual life without partaking
of spiritual food. As impossible is it
a. for one to preserve the physical be-
ing without partaking Of material food.
We are told that Jenny Lind when
asked how she could abandon the stage
at the very height of her success, re-
piled;
"When every day it made me think
less of this" laying her hand on the
Bible, "and nothing at all Of that"
pointing to the sunset, what else could
l do?"
Who has not at some time in his life
experienced the shock of finding that
his spiritual perceptions were blunted,
his desire for the best things of life
weakened? This experience must come
again and again unless the absorbent,
responsive soul is fed with what is con-
ducive to its spiritual growth. Sur
round ones self with the mean and low
things Of life, think upon them, make
them part Of the being, and inevitably
the highest and best, the souls heri-
tage, is crowded out.
A vast deal of happiness is lost sight
of in this world because of the desire
of many people-among them many so
called Chris1ians-to mete out Justice
to those who have wronged them.
vengeance is mine, | will repay
saith the Lord. Strange that any indi-
vidual should feel it incumbent upon
himself to aid the Almighty in what
lie distinctly says is His work.
Should not the Judge of all the earth
DO right? Then let no one spend time
in worrying over the fact that this one
or that one is hourishing, or apparent
" flourishing, who i'll deserves success,
and that this one or the other remains
who has inflicted grievous
Why is it that so many people, when
the near and dear of others die, acqui-
esce in Gods proyidence-see His wis
dom and ruling hand. but when their
own are taken from them openly re-
volt, questioning His mercy and His
love? Does il not seem as if they must
imagine that they ought to be singled
out from all the world by the Creator
and exempted from the working. out
Of natural laws? Illogical and irration-
al in the extreme it is truly, to deem
that the misfortunes and sorrows
which overtake ones neighbors are dis
of a merciful Providence,
but that the evils which touch ones
self are utterly inexplcable, and a suf-
fcient cause for disloyalty, If not in
fidelity.
"Do not feed on husks when angel
TODD may be yours" The application
Of these words is as wide and far-reach-
ing as life itself. Books, companion
ship, thoughts, amusements, abrange
from the bitter-dregged, the eneryating,
to the strengthening and soul-lifting.
What shall be the quality Of our
That rests with ourselves.
Only we, ourselves, can decide.-El-
eanor Root. in y. Y. Observer.