The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-09

It Is very tiny, quiet, unobtrusive lit
tie volume. in It's duh blue board covers,
looking modestly conscious that Il only
costs 80 cents, and that therefore in this
commercial day and generation II is like
" to be overlooked in the host of gaudier
things spread out on the counters before
you. But quiet as II is. you cannot afford
to overlook 1t, and that is why am put
ting 1t first OF all. 1t Is "A Christmas
Bermon," by Robert Louis Stevenson Per-
haps you remember that when it came out
IN Scrlbners Magazine dozen years ago
you read 1t and re-read It with youthful
ardor, and copied long extracts from IL
into your note book. and learned certain
passages by heart. and put them on the
calendars you made your friends--if you
were ever young and foolish enough to
compile calendars for your friends. since
then you have lost sight of 1t little.
You knew II was reprinted In Across
the Plains" but that was one of the
voiumeD OF STEVENSON you did not have,
and so. though you often needed 1t to
preach to yourself and others, 1t wa
never a. haci un.s now. But here II Is,
and with * those brave passages which
have all the beauty possible to literature
and all the faith possible to religion. They
via stand repetition, for there Is nothing
truer than what they say. and never has
It been better said:
'sTo be honest, to be kind. to earn
little and to spend a little less. to make
upoE tho whole a family happier for his
presence to renounce when that shall be
necessary and not be embittered. to keep
Z few friends, but these without. capitu-
iatioE--above all on the Same grim con-
dIfion. to keep friends with himself here
II q task for all that q man has of for
titude and deiicacy. He has ar ambitiouS
soul who would ASH more; he has a hope
- - a.. xot,
tefprise to be successful. There is, In
deod, one element in human destiny that
not blindness itself can controvert: what
ever else we are Intended to do, we are
not intended TO succeed; failure is the
fate allotted. 1t Is SO In every art and
study: It is so above all In the continent
ast OF living well. Here is pleasant
thought for the years end or for thu end
Of life: Only self-deception will be sat
isfed, and there need be no despair for
the despairer."
ITO look back upon the past year and
see how little we have strfven and to what
small purpose; and how often we have
beenicowardl, and hung back: OF timorous
and rushed u,;wisely in: an5 how every
Day and all day long we have transgress-
Cd the law of Kindness; X may seera
paradox. but in tho bitterness OF these
discoveries q certain consolation resides.
Life Is NOT designed TO minister TO a
mans vanity He goes upon his long
business mos. OF the time with hanging
head, ard all the time like blind child.
Full OF rewards and pleasures as It is
20 that to see the day break or the moon
rise. or to meet friend, or to hear the
dfnner-cal when he is hungEy, Nils him
with surprising joys-this world ir yet for
him no abiding cit. Friendships fall
through. health falls. wsariness assafis
him: yea- after year he must thumb the
hardly varying record Of his own weak
ness and folly IT Is a friendly process
OF detachme1t. When the t.me comes
that he should &C. there need be few H.
iusions left about hlmsels Here lies one
who meant well, tried q little, failed
much'--surely that may be fis epitaph. of
which he nee1 not be ashamed. Nor will
no complain nj tho summons which calls
n defeated soldtlr from the field: defeat
ed, aye. II he were Paul or Marcus Azure
liust--but II thcre Is stiil one inch OF fight
IN his old spirit, undishonofed. The faith
which sustained him In his lifelong blum
ders and lifelong disappointment VIII
scarce oven be required in this last for
maiity Of laying down his arms. Give
him "A march with his old bonss. there
out OF the glorious snn-coiared earth, out
OF the day and the dust and the ecstasy
there goes another Faithful Failurer'
"a Christmas Sermon" by Robert Louis
cents. For sale by Lownaan Hanford.