Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-07-08
THE IDEAL LiFE.

There are times when we who have
lived constantly in the valleys become
dissatisfied with our surroundings
witt the commonplace scenery. the
narrow horizon and contracted vision
and look with envious eyes to the few
who have succeeded in climbing to the
mountain top Then, under some sud
den spell, we summon up courage
gather our feeble strength, and at
tempt TO climb the steep and rugged
ascent. And when at last, after many
trials and failures, we reach the sum
nit we are fully rewarded for our ex.
ertions by the glorious sight before us
and by the exhilaratlon of the upper
air
These in the valley can see only a
small nart of fife worlds wonders
here q neld, a garden; there cavern
a river. or lake. Upon the mountain
top the sublime and aw inspiring
prospect Of dhe worlds wonderful de
sign, beauty. majesty, and power
bursts full upon the eye. From be
low we saw only few peaks; from
above hundreds of peaks come into
view, hundreds of smaller mountains,
separated by undulations of green for.
ests or by silver threads Of limpid wa
tiers. From below we had limited
outlook, saw only our own confii- ]
surroundings few peasants. villag-
ers, or conceited townspeople; heheld
only petty affairs of mundane life,
which seemed of such paramount i'm
portance to the denizens of the valley.
From the heights we have compare
lively speaking. an almost unlimited
horizon and can see at glance many
cities and villages, and in the distance
hills and valleys, rivers and lakes, and
beyond the mighty ocean embracing
all things. From above all great cities
seem but as toy villages, men and
women as tiny miniatures, and our
seemingly vast enterprises as the block
houses Of children at play. Standing
there on the mountain top, in the very
presence of the Lord, as 1t We're, upon
the throne of creation, we seem to
realize a sense of our greater selves
and our larger possibilities. and TO
feel that the people and the things
we have left below are but the chrysa-
lis from which we have escaped; that
the world In the valley is but the step
ping stone to the higher world above.
There are luminous hours in oul
lives when the soul yeaIns to eman-
cipate itself from the limitations I'M
der which it was born and has con.
tinued to exist. and seeks to rise to
some higher estate of manhood OF
womanhood. We have Mt times Wis.
ions of men and women who have
risen to spiritual heights which we
aspire to reach. They seem to live on
the mountain tops of life and enjoy a
greater and broader view of human
affairs. They are men of unusual wis
dom, profound reason. OF uncompro-
missing convictions; men who stand on
the vantage ground of truth. who love
Righteousness, execute justice, and
walk humbly before their God; broad
gauge men. full of sympathy and love
for humanity; wholesouled men and
women who can smile benignly and
speak graciously, yet wisely; philan-
thropists, lovers of mankind, who tenn
per justice with mercy, Judgment with
charity, and who. like divinity, are pa
tent, long suffering, and abundant in
kindness and mercy.
In our better Moments we seek TO
stand upon such a lofty plane. Our
ordinary lives seem commonplace,
.'stale. fiat, and ofitable." We 20
constantly through the same routine
of eating and drinking sleeping and
waking. The great masses seem like
thousands and millions and myriads of
molecules and organized cells that
contribute to the mechanism of the
universe. We seem often to be only
as the small teeth ON the cog wheels
of human and cosmic life, rotating
upon one another to move some other
set es wheels, and thus transmit pow
er, vitality, and growth to an infinite
number of revolving wheels. Now and
then some of us rebel against a cruel,
at least an undesirable. fate or destiny.
We aspire to some higher existence
than that of the beast; we want to be
something more thar merely a part
of a cog wheel; we have an ambition
to be a power that mo res the wheel.
to be a conscious and active directing
force. not 4 mere passive piece of
mechanism. We wish TO be not the
clay that is nodded but the potter who
designs and executes the plan In
our better hours we reach out to such
an ideal life that is far above our ma
terial, worldly existence. with its con-
slant round of toll and care. coupled
with only a modicum of pleasure.
It is such an ideal that reconeiles us
to the most bitter dlsappointments. 1t
is the buoy that keeps us afioat in the
teMpestuous sea of life until some I'M
expected help comes to our rescue.
The man without an ideal is lost in
this sorfid. selfish. and cold hearted
world He is subject 10 dependency,
despair and broken spirit that often
follows bitter disappointment. and to
the loss Of health. happiness and for
tune as a result II the deceit and in
gratitude of selfish and treacherous
friends.
At such a time the words Go firth
and stand on the mountain top taaore
the Lord" appeal to US with wonder
ful force. Get thee out OF the slough
of despair. out Of the valley where