The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-30

LET not him that girdeth on his armor
boast as he that putteth 1t OIL Kings
Xxx, IL.
What sayings are they that become
proverbs? They are the sayings that are
over and over again approved wise In the
everyday experiences OF our life. Ihey
deal with the common things of our life
and the common tendencies Of our nature.
This is what makes them live to an old
age and makes them more fresh and FORCE
full the older they are.
We see the wisdom Of many good old
proverbs as soon as they are uttered. and
vet so many of US fail to adopt the wise
counsels that are so quickly acknowledged
that there is need that the old proverb
should live on A counsel uniformly lived
I'D to would soon cease to be repeated; 1t is
our very disregard of wise proverbs that
continues them in life.
Our text Is an old proyerb now: and u
has all the air Of being an old proverb at
the time of its utterance here by Ahab.
king of Israel The words were Ahab's mes
sage to Benhadad, king Of Syria. The mes.
sage was sent at a time when all things
seemed to be going i'll with Ahab. and Ben
hadad was having everything his own way.
Up to this point he had received whatever
he asked for; but now he had made his
demands SO insolent and humiliating that
what spirit was eft in Ahab arose in des-
perate rebellion. 1t pleased God to inter-
vene in behalf of Ahab, and the victory
came to Israel, though, humanely speaking,
all the chances were that they would suffer
certain defeat. The hand of God Is fac
tor in history that must never be left out OF
account; a factor that overturns many CAL
culations that seem certain to be realized.
This fact is the only thing that we need
CLEAN here from the historical side Of our
subject, for our present concern is not with
the fortunes Of Israel and Syria. and the
speaks; but with the old proverb itself. This
we may well apply to the beginning and the
ending Of LIES warfare.
No one can deny that the victory at the
end of a battle is better thing than the
pomp and parade with which the army goes
forth to war. And yet 1t Is common
| same pomp and parade. There Is glitter
about it that pleases us. and sometimes
| tempts US into the notion that attractive
| uniforms and inspiring music and regular
| step and orderly drill are the whole of sol
dierhood. We like the drill, and dread the
conflict not stopping enough to think that
| discipline; and that true soldierhood Is APP
proved not on the parade ground. but in the
| battlefield.
! TO WHOM LAURELS BELONG.
This latter truth has been recently en-
| forced upon our minds in the war with
| Spain; nor is our civil war 30 far in the
past as to let us forget that the laurels
belong not to the bright, fresh-uniformed
regiments that go to the front with light
| hearted boasts. but to the grimy battle
SCARED veterans, who with frayed and rag
| ged uniforms have borne their tattered BAN
ners through the shock OF battle on to vic
| tory.
| 1t Is common thing to find that where
| the cause for Boosting is greatest, the dis
| position to boast Is least. True greatness
and modesty are close akin Buster is the
| common companion of cowardice and ineffi-
| cheney. Heroism need not herald itself.
| Whether at the beginning or end of war
| ing about anything that We are or do.
But the beginning OF great undertakings
| Is more time for anxiety than for boast
Ing. 1t is harder to carry out a high pur-
| pose steadfastly to the end. than II is to
ming Good beginnings are not to be
Of as il they were everything. After the
beginning comes the earnest toll ard strug-
| gle. and not until we get to the end Of all
that does the real prize come.
We reach those little endIngs of our life
that are really more important as begin
nings. need to be surpassed In the new
| bors OF school life are a prelude TO more
4 serious cares and labors In the manhood
or womnhood that is beyond. The ankle
serious anxieties and responsibilities Of the
married life. The discipline Of the barrack
and the drill ground is preparation for
the greater work and danger OF the field
There is something beautiful and not e
be discouraged In the interest We manifest
a aPs ers ss z.s ea Ss ss .s s
on these events more @ climax than 81