Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-06-12
MEDAL WINNING ESSAY.

in the college paper later on,
but many Of her friends are anxious 70
read it, and we viii here say, that Il
is a vary c~reditable literary produc-
ton and shows that her time has not
been FILTERED away.
We are living In an advanced age,
an active earnest age, that is moving
with great rapidity. Each day brings
forth some invention, some new Idea,
some new hero.
Improvement comes from the per-
sistent efforts Of enthusiastic men and
women, with ideas in their brains and
courage IN their hearts; and we, the
leaders OF the twentieth century, are
warned 10 keep step with the marcel
Of progress touch the great throbbing
heart Of the world and feel that this
is our life, our home and our land. AS
the years multiply one after another,
we realize more and more that our
must be selfrelisnce, that we
must assume our own position and be
to the distant future.
Yet, to a limited extent, each one
has bis own world which is to him his
What are the paltry concerns
OF mans ambition to US, the rise and
fall OF empires, the contests OF kings,
OF crash Of thrones?
These are but pulses Of the time and
pass By and drift away as does the
silvery foam upon the mighty deep.
Our life, our character, the great be-
yond, Is the one subject that should
employ our minds from childhood. No
matter whether fame or fortune has
favored US. whether u position be
high or low, the great motto for us is,
"Know thyself and he real.n While
there is great variety in the mental
and spiritual aptitude Of men, every
man has his proper place and when
faithfully discbarging his duty in that
sphere, be is filling up the measure Of
responsibility, even though his work
may appear Insignificant compared
with what others are doing. The
king upon bis throne may be a mean,
degraded man, a slave to ambition, to
fear, to every low passion; while the
poor, simple peasant in his lowly
matched cottage may be the real
monarch, the moral master Of his fate
and a prince in his happiness.
The real life is so often hidden and
viii not appear until it enters the
heavenly life; only the bub is seen
by man, but, by and by the low
er will burst forth into rich bloom.
We are not real, not what W. seem, we
live too much for outward appearance,
and wear the Sunday face, the pleas
ant, entlcing smile, while back Of this
|0Gr hearts are ceutered upon that
which is evil aud tends 10 make us
popular. This glossy coat winch we
present to the public cannot bear the
light Of truth and honesty, but fades
when touched BY the worthy, upright
person.
Appearance too often takes the
place Of reality; We may have winning
ways, be entertaining and attractive,
but u 1t be a mere whitcwash, oul
life is as a feeting shadow, and when
the soft rays Of moonlight steal in
upon 1t and penetrate its frail, feeble
body, it disappears and is seen nc
more. The glitter OF truth may be
there, the tongue may deceive, but il
honesty is not stamped in the heart
we are counterfeits after all.
Sham Is carried into every depart
ment of life, and We are being cor
rupted by show and surface. w
have conversed with those whose bril-
liant wit,pungent sarcasm and beauti
fully arranged sentences charmed US
we have listened to those whose elo
Quence dazzled, whose pretended
e-arnestness kindled within US an en-
thusiasm equal to their own, and ye'
behind all this we felt there lurked
monster that repealed the admiration
their genius attracted. Yes, deep il
their hearts was coiled the serpent o
deception, the venomous reptile tina.
silently steals into mans characte
and leaus him to death and destruc
tlon.
Perhaps we see more fraud in thu
political life than any other choseI
profession.
Many Of the so-called great mel
that we send to the capital Of our ma
tion 10 represent us and make gu.
laws, are only surface people, sleel
tongued and polished.
They deceive the voters by thel
%eowardly ways, and solicit their sup
port by high-sounding speeches
touched here and there with fact
and truths making them believe the
could shoulder this great government
Of ours alone.
But how often when they secure
positions. the people find themselyeI
an ornamental piece Of humanity.
The same deceptive spirit Is mani
fest In society, pretended admiration
for authors books, plays and music
those who grow enthusiastic oyeI
some relgning craze. Why is IL tina
people who do not care for music e
into .~ecstasles over Rubinsteln Of
Paderewskig And why do youn.
men and women who hayeno acquaint
ance with certain authors pretend {,
50 much admire them?
Why, because they are perfect
shams, weak, depraved creatures, mere
tOgls for those with whom they as
sociate.
II we do not like Shakespeare let u
say so; We are not expected to agre,
with everyone.
II We do not enjoy music let us mol
undergo torture 81 listening 70 Ion.
concertos for the sake Of making /
show.
We need more honesty Of expires
sion and less pretence; II is foolish I,
be always on The strut before the glas
Of public opinion; while IL is pleasant
Y0lP Wants