The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-06
THE r1URr1UR OF THE WORLD.

Afflatus has sought to teach us in verse that all things come around right to whosoever will but wait, and since all human individuals are in some degree fatalists, this easy-teaching to easy-go- ing man has found wide acceptance. Yet those of us who have lived life as real and earnest know. each for each. a diff ferent story.
 The utmost stretch of truth Is that things which are best come to all who work worthily and wait patiently.
 If genius be an infinite capacity for labor, the things which are to content us must come of an in finite capacity to patiently strive This Is much the same as genius, and is within reach of every pose. In the worldly sense of success, nothing succeeds like patience. In the soul-soothing quality patience Is a su- preme virtue. If one were suffered to teach to all the children of the earth one word of worldliness that Is possessed of saintly significance patience would be taught with pious devotion.
 Patience does not sit by the wayside with open hands to catch the tardy pen- nies of passers-by; patience makes the way for all who will to tread, and that way Is clearly marked through jungle and across slough and fair field alike unto the gate of that paradise of man where joy and laughter romp the days away to heaven.
 Patience bends the back to the proper burdens of the world and bears them bravely through days of heat and nights of unrest, over the embers and the ice of life, and in the by and by the day comes that brings to the garden of the gods of mans earthly striving, where all burdens are lifted and there is-peace. o dsy, peacei How noble Is the reward of patience.
 Fret and fume and mawkish repining are most foolish of the follies of the world, dearly beloved. They lengthen the long days of unrest, and bring grief to men and women guiltless of offending. They are the hearts highwaymen. ready to rob and do to death all of us who pass their way instead of the sweet path of gentle patience.
 Peace, contentment, comfort. these are the most precious treasures to be striven for, prayed for, in our lives, and besides these the best of every other thing is as the muddy flood of a ditch to a wayfar- ing man athirst. Fame is an accident; history is a compilation of idle rumors. The light that colors the stage whereon the great are wont to play is the illusory fickering of ciamorous passion, beating upon lust and greed and all manner of follies. Better wild flowers in wood or field than the wild tumult of the forum. Better the songs and fancies and abid- ing faith of childhood through the ad- vancing years than to grow old mouthing and mumbling of things you cannot change, or signing for things you can not and ought not to accomplish. Better remain young of heart and keep youthful songs in your memory fresh than to be longing an striving for the empty and unenviable distinction of laundering ora tions listening senates to command.
 Better be patient-patient in all things patient in seeking for the quieter and  moved from the sounding stage at which fools gape and of which wise men grow weary.
 Better love your fellowman, love the flowers and the trees and the birds and the dumb beasts, than to love your own ambition to make a show of yourself In black type in the public journals. Better the faithful attachment of one beloved friend who will love you unselfishly than the thundrous plaudits of a hundred thousand of the minimizing ones who would cheer you as loudly for jumping off bridge. swimming river or slaugh- tering men as they would if you leaped into the Presidency or over a steeple Better be accounted a good man in your street than a hero with world-resound- ing name and world-filing vanity, for heroes are too numerous and bother some. while the demand for good men is perpetual.
 is no room at the top of the world; 1t is over-crowded. Let your sober thoughts never learn to stray in that direction. Be worthy. De fit and the top will not ap- pear to be worth your while. The friend- ship and good opinion of those amongst whom you make your home are worth III the top ever had to offer since the
 anity of man faslAoned 1t to break hu-