The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-06-26
NIOUGHTS.



those odd mice Of Japan that start
straight forward and then whirl in
circles. We see ahead something that
shall be all in all to us and strive to-
wards it only to he swayed aside by
something that diverts the attention
elsewhere We are often restless to be
doing just for our own sakes and our
own honours. We strive for selfish
reasons only to find results do not
bring peace or satisfaction. Nothing
attained satisfies absolutely even I'M
selfish workers; how far will it be from
satisfying self-seeking strivers.
Striving is good for US, If only it be
unseliish; striving caused by sense Of
responsibility for being here in the
world; striving because Of feeling Of
oneness with an ever restless hu-
manity-such striyings are good
whether or not we attain the goal we
start for. If we fall by the way it is
good, providing still our faces and our
hearts are towards the goal.
Herein is peace for the restless heart
the conviction that all work begun is
liable to be left incomplete, that all
knowledge strained after will fall short
Of the absolute, that all service attempt
ed cannot be perfect;-the peace is here
that because Of our human kinship we
will fare forth to do because the thing
to be done is something that ought to
be done by some one. When that feel
ing is within, then comes the COM
pulsion based upon the conscious con-
science that a duty seen is the OppOr-
tunity and command to the one who
sees il. The man or woman who feels
compelled by forces within to do a
work, is not held back by a sense of
feebleness. Feebleness is there, Of
course, but feebleness when expended
in the right direction is strong in the
right and therefore no longer feeble; else
would no good work ever be attempted,
for no strength is equal to the whole
worlds work and needs
Peace Of heart does not come from
getting there" 1t comes from the in
ner knowledge Of a sane attempt to do
the right thing.
Peace does not hide away some
where in a remote recess Of the world,
nor does it dwell away from the world
alone by itself.
Ofall unwise things done by those
who are foolish, the unwisest is to be
ever yearnlng for some far away field
Of endeavor; as if there were magic in
an opportunity that is sufficiently re-
mote. The nearby duty is the one
usually that needs to be done and the
nearest person to that duty is the one
usually that needs to be done and the
nearest person to that duty Is the one
for it. Yet full often the restless, I'M
peaceful one yearns for the distant
mountain top Of broader view and duty
and looks clear oyer the next step which
leads to 1.-THE duty at hand.
Peace is thing within, superior to
all outer storms aud buiIetings, just as
the CLEAN Of the lighthouse is steady
even when the TEMPEST outside rOars-
none Of these things move its serenity
Of shining. None Of reversals moves
the spirit that knows why it strives
and for what benefit to other human
beings it is living.
Peace within lives and reigns though
not all outside goes well with ourselves
or others. And why? Because when
our eyes are open to behold the wond.
rous things Of this vast universe, we
see it to be great consistent scheme
moving by countless efforts ever to-
wards a greater light, and hope, and
progress. and in that knowledge is
peace ioI tuoot WIN arc ihPSiiNSt
now shall in the order Of things
someday, somewhere have their
full chance to be all that they ought to
be. Each intelligent being shares in
all that has been so far done; each
shares in all that is yet to come. In
this thought dwells the belief that all
imperfect persons and things and ideas
move forward in contributing toward
perfection, so that every motion of
humanity gets dignity and hope to 1t.
The imperfect efforts are not to be de-
spised, for they are ever building the
platform Of embarkatiOn for the next
generation; so that imperfectiOn IL
eternally being used by greater perfee-
ton, the greater impossible without
the less. II this were not so then every
soldier who dies before the triumph
has died IN vain; every sailor that
perishes in striving to save his ship
aud her passengers is himself a vain
thing because he also was not saved.
Thus when we get right sense OF
our own dignity and the possibility OF
our own feebleness itself being Of aid to
the worlds strength, we get a peace
that rises superior to the petty annoy
ances of daily life, and makes even
lowly doing and unrecognized living
something that needs no apology OF ex-
cuse; the whole little oft being essential
to the worlds whole greatness.
He is Only Printer.
ale is only printer" Such was the
the sneering remark Of leader in a
circle Of aristocracy-codhsh quality.
Who was the earl Of StanhOpe? He
was only printer. What was Prince
Edward Williams and Prince Ma
poleon? Proud to call themselves