The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-03-24
BE THYSELF.
BELLE BEARDEN BARRY.

BELLE BEARDEN BARRY.
How important and how very appli-
cable to all is the wise old saying,
"Know thyself." However, let us con-
sider for a time another which may
prove equally as important, "Be thy
SCI. 1t is really our duty, not only to
ou4 SELVES, but also to our fellowmen,
tokknow what we are, after which it
will then be an easy thing to be, to act,
ard to live what we are.
Some minds, like some bodies, have
naturally a slower growth than others,
subsequently it is later in life with some
persons than with others, when the
quickening comes, when the mind be-
gil Ato unfold, and desires to dissent
ma Esome of the information which it
haf acquired during the previous per-
ioI when only the desire for learning
an absorbing seemed to exist.
here are different methods and con-
diifons by which we may learn to know
ourselves and to be ourselves, and there
ard likewise different channels through
Which, and into which, we may cast our
influence. For instance, when woman
becomes member OF society, or any
orhnization, how prone she is to feel
ths# it is enough for her to do, to give
he E name and furnish her dues, and
the sit back in idleness and watch
soltebody else do all the work. The
~ nNce knew a lady wh9 schooled
activity by reasoning with
h61self, and in her soliloquy she said,
"I1 am eligible to this society am
sur ELY capable of thinking, talking and
acting in my own individuality, which
| hive the right to do just as much as
any member of this society.
My opinions may or may not be so
good as the opinions of another, but
ha9e the right and privilege to give
them expression, and will certainly do
so, whether they become accepted or
rejected, and by so doing I shall be-
come better acquainted with myself;
others will know me better, and shall
develop individuality by which it shall
be known that I have at last learned to
think and speak for myself, the out
growth of which may be successful
entrance into the different avenues of
life. thus proving to the world that am
no longer nonenity.
A conversation was overheard the
other day which served to intensity this
same idea. One lady said to another,
II Gesire to unite with a certain society,
being willing to attend the meetings
and pay my dues, but want the officers
to understand that | do not want to
read, sing, pray, or talk publicly" The
lady to whom this was addressed said
to her, "You may feel this way during
the early days of your membership, be-
cause it is very natural, but when you
have been member for several months
or a. year l predict you will change as l
have changed, and not be satisfied and
happy unless you are as an individual,
pursuing your part of the
work, which may be as only the
throwing on of little coal, but
should we all throw on our little
how great the fire would become,
ho bright and far reaching
the radiance, around which many per-
sons might collect to partake of it's
some physically, some NOR
ally land others spiritually perhaps, but
all In way to promote growth, activ-
ity land lasting benefit. From little
Things great things grow, and when we
casually drop little seeds of kindness
and usefulness, need we be surprised on
som}b future day to find that the seed
had Nfallen in good soil, which warmed
and nourished it, until it had developed
into rank bush, which would soon be-
comb tree of utility and power, under
whidh humanity may sit when wearied
by qife's tolls, and of whose fruit the
hunj gry and famished may partake and
live1
Ldt us be ourselves by yielding to
that something which tells us to be up
and doing. The work may seem small
to Is, and we may not see the result
ours elves, but the effect will be seen
and felt by others, who may be greatly
help led in their life work by its far
reacE hing influence.