The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-11-04
IIappinpsr.

II We judge men by their actions and
the objects which they pursue. their chief
desire seems to .e that they may attain
happiness. A man is called blessed who
can invent new Joy or show his fellow
men the way to further pleasures. The
chief question asked, i'll a change of posi-.
ton or occupation, often is VIII I
like the new place better than the old?'
Men will toll hard. early and late. and
10 1t willingly ii YOU can only show them
a recompensc OF happiness at the end OF
it all
But this world is. after all. a sad one.
II is full of disappointment sick sorrow.
ing. bafiled and defeated men. The cynic
is everywhere in evidence. Bright hopes
are blasted. Riches take unto themselves
wings and fly away. Position. talent. and
hopeful worldly influence are no protec-
ton. against the nlaguc of black care.
We have then, SAYS the Chicago Ad.
'ance, the anomaly OF man fitted for hap
pinesS. and desiring it above all things.
yet having it flee from him. Some phil.
osophers have declared that the whole
word Is an illusion. and that there is no
such thing a. reality. 1t is impossible. we
are told, Tor man to attain the things
which he desires. and that it is useless
for him to fret himself about them. The
Greeks expressed this idea in the fable
of Tantalus in Tartarus. lie was i'm
mersed in water up to his chin and tree
loaded with luscious fruits hung its
branches Just over his head He was
thirsty and hungry, but when he at.
tempted to drink, the water fled from
him, and when he tried to pick the fruit,
Just above his head. it vanished away.
But why should happiness flee from a
man, when he SO ardently desires it? The
trouble is that men for the most part
seek 1t through relaxation. and the lower
ing OF the standards. 1t is the old history
Of Adam and Eve over again. There was
Il settling down OF moral integrity on their
part for the grasping of what they con
sidered greater happiness Men ask
to-day: why should we obey this or
that law OF God. man, or of our moral
nature. when 1t bars the way TO our en-
1oyment"' This is part OF the revolt
against what men call "Puritanism." The
Chlnaman smokes his opium pipe regard.
less OF the consequences, because it, for
the time being, brings to him dreams of
surprising bliss. Men seem to care little
Tor, the consequences in their pleasures,
and nence come their wanderings in bleak
wildernesses.
Jesus Christ sho ed that if man would
o. truly happy he must attain to this
happiness through mastery OF the situa.
';on. There Is no joy like that of the
victor. IL Is the man who has gone down
into the tumult and uproar of life and
fought and CONQUERED in some good cause
who tastes OF the nectar of supreme JOY.
The master words with Christ were:
Fight watch and nray:" here is the en-.
trance to the real Utopia for which men
seek. The man who has no mastery over
his appctites, passions and temper can
never hnow what genuine JOY is.
The conditions of happiness which pro-
duce no Illusions and brighten more and
more unto perfect day are not difficult to
name. There must be some supreme oh.
iect of love and hope upon which the
heart is fixed. There must be a harmony
with the wll Of God There must he on
durance in the cause OF Jesus Christ.
There must be an inner peace which no
outer tumult can disturb.