The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-12-05
THOUGHTS.


needs Tor growth, and it, life prevail.
over the dead and Indifferent matter
into which il fell. Every idea thai
this world has had, worth having, ha'
started unnoticed, and the devotees Of
every good idea, whether 10 the past II
has swung "A majority, or whether in
the future il is TO swing a majority,
must expect, in forcing along theiI
idea, to be, In the times Of its truesi
growth, very much in a minority. a
right idea is not even bound 10 grow
rapidly, any more than a tough endur-
ing oak can hope to rival the easily
decaying bamboo shooting upward at
the rate Of foot a day under tropic in
fiuence. The enduring things Of this
world grow slowly. The human crea-
ture. intended to mould and shape this
world TO his mind or to his will, takes
nearly thirty years to reach his matur-
ity, while several generations Of some
Of the lower animals will haye thriyed
and passed away in that time.
The very best thing in the world for
young man, someone has said, is for
him to associate himself with minor
ity cause. Itmakes him selfforgt ting
throwing in literally and without hope
Of reward the best Of himself for the
sake Of the cause lie loves. A minority
cause makes a man work, and hope,
and struggle. 1t makes him go against
the stream instead Of floating easily
with it. To use a homely illustration,
it is a live fish that can push through
the water; its a dead one that floats.
Yet we cannot advise association with
a minority cause unless at the same
time we throw out a word Of warming
against blind fanaticism. To be in a
minority is not absolute proof that a
cause is right, else the bounds Of Heaven
itself will be terribly narrow If some
minority secis are right aud the major
ity are wrong. II minorityship proves
right, then these fanatic Doukholders,
forsaking duty to themselves and their
families, and wondering afar in the
midst Of the seventies Of a Canadian
winter, Seeking the light" are right
and the rest of the world is wrong. A
idea to be right must be ioun-
ded on the great principles Of common |
sense, common need and possible |
achievement. To stick to a minority |
idea desperately and fcroclously as
some do, though that minority idea /
never gathers 70 itself any sound mind
ed cooperation, is to prepare ones own
mind for gradual loss Of touch with the
great pulsing world and its needs. fla
idea does not grow, what
proof is there that IL has the life given
seed Of human sense in it? Just so is
il waste Of time aud Of care and en-
Ihusiasm for farmer t. cultivate corn
that refuses to sprout, or for a hen TO
sit on pebbles.
Then too, another may be applied
10 minority causes when they come
knocking at our hearts for recognition,
10 they persuade as away from the
iuty lying next to band? If they do,
hey need to be looked at askance. 1t
S a human failing TO seek afar of for
he thing we ought to do instead Of
ietting our hand resolutely to the
plough Of duty lying in our own fields.
In good humor Dickens tells Of the
neglected condition Of the children Of a
woman who was giving her whole
hought to the neglected children Of
avages who did not know they were
reelected. Lowell, in all seriousness,
Ouches on this human tendency in his
poem about Sir Launfall's
search for the Holy Grail. After wan
Iering the world over to show his de-
lotion and to seek his reward, he found
hat the beggar who had been seated
t his gate all the time typified the
)hrist to him.
The great mass Of humanity, indifSe-
ent and unthinking, is, always has
cen, and possibly always will be lifted
y the purposeful minority. think
is Emerson who says "Every man is
$ lazy as be dares to be-" Some are
cry lazy, Indifferent, unthinking, and q
he great average Of human progress is
My maintained by those who, feeling
he thrill Of broad life, and humanity
CRYING purpose within them, do not !
are to be lazy.
A. long as life upon this earth shall last,
Stern war we wage.
The right OF each 10 mould his life down :
cast 4
A battle gage. r
The Multitude collects with glad accord, 4
And loudly boasts.
That Victry's wing is ever dropped toward
The larger hosts.
Others hopc 10 stem lifc's now,
Aud. losing. gain q
Since seeds root deep and die before they =,
grow
To golden grain.
Sometimes the straight and upward path q
we see
By many trod:
The Peoples Voice is found TO y
De
The Voice Of God. b
Sometimes the dross OF Error dark and
deep [
The Truth confines y
Sometimes, through aeons, costly jewels
sleep
In dusky mines.
And those alone who with purpose pure u
That drOss assail,
shall ind that Truth is ever strong and sure, Il
and must prevail. n
For Sale! II