Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-07-30
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= A Preacher =
- Among the People. =
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENcE.

try or not?" In one form OF another
this very serious question has been
propounded to me many times by peo-
pie who have come to feel that their
position In life is so obscure and their
work so trivial that whether they are
active or Indifferent the end will be
practically the same. This sad conclu-
sion indicates eithersomesorea afflictlon
or a failure to grasp the real purpose
Of life.
Not enjoyment and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today"
Or to state 1t in matter of fact prose,
according to Longfellow's conception,
character is the chief end of life, and
character, which Is sure in the end to
prove ito be its own reward, Is begot
EN- Of ones loyalty to ones self and to
some appointed or chosen task. 1t is
in no sense dependent upon publicity
or fame. The humblest toiler in the
most obscure corner of the world has
1t in his power to become the embodi-
ment of nobleness and truth. But the
fact that a man may build character
that will entitle him to a place only
a little lower than the angels" does
soul. He desires to be assured that
his work bears such relation to the
general interests of mankind that 1t
does make a vital difference to others
as well as 10 himse1f whether he is
faithful to 1t or not. That it does bear
such relation is mo doubt true, and
once that fact is made clear, courage
and cheerfulness invariably supplant
despair
1t is possible for one to put too high
an estimate upon his worA and worth;
but the tendency, am sure, is to err
on other side. Since 1 believe this
ist rue, do not hesttitae to commend
the spirit OF tthe little organ boy, who,
having a Just appreciation OF the work
he had done. said f6ethe organist and
singers at the close OF the entertain
ment: THAT was a fine concert we
gave" "We," exclaimed the thought
less organist with contempt, "and pray
what had you to do with it?" The little
fellow was not able to answer that
brusque and inconsiderate question
just then, but he still felt that he had
somehow been necessary to the even
ing entertainment, that without him
the organist and choir could not have
scored so great a success. He went
home, and, having thought 1t all over,
became quite sure he was right when
said that was a fine concert WE
gave" However ne held his peace un-
til tie following Sunday morning,
when in the very midst OF the organ
lists voluntary he stopped pumping,
stepped around in front OF the organ
and said to the player: Say, WE
are furnishing this music or l wont
give you any more wind" The or
ganist, realizing instantly that the boy
was esential to the successful render
ing of his voluntary, quickly said WE.
This story simply illustrates the idea
that should like to get firmly fixed
in the minds of my discouraged fellow
men. No man of himself can ever
achieve very great results. am ever
ready to give prominent leaders all ...e
credit that Is due them for the bene-
fits they have conferred upon the
world. But / also recognize that
no great reform or general forward
movement is ever the result OF the eff
forts of one man. A leader withuot
followers tried and true is Sampson
shorn II his locks. No one familiar
with the circumstances will ever try to
detract one iota from the glory due
General Thomas. who stood like rock
on the field Of Chicamauga and
wrenehed victory from the jaws of de-
feat. Nor yet does any one familiar
with those same circumstances believe
that without the timely arrival of
Lordon Granger with his three thous-
and seven hundred courageous, will
ing followers, Thomas would have been
able to withstand the furious assaults
OF Dongstreet's men. And 1t was not
an appeal from Thomas, but the boom
ing of guns manned by his resolute
but obscure soldiery that brought
Granger to his assistance at such a
critical moment that his arrival SEEM
ed more like miracle than an Inter
esting incident oil war. And at the
close OF the battle on Chicamauga field
there were many who could specify
nothing thatthey had done beyond the
fact that they had kept their places
and did with their might whatever
theirhands found to do. When con-
trasted with the BATTLE as a whole, the
work OF any one man must have ap-
peared very insignificant to himself;
but 1t was just that individual faith
fulness 90 APPARENTLY Insignificant du-
ties that determined the general re-
suit
And 1t is just so in the daily life Of
,Ae world. Each man standing in his
own place and doing his part no mat
ter how small 1t seems or how obscure
he may be, adds just hat much to the
sum OF the days success. Roses may