Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-12-29

Many children do not know their par
ents. have no suspicion OF their diff
culties and struggles, no conception Of
those piteously disordered homes
where all the relations are false, but
OF honorable families. Only all these
people are greatly preoccupied; each
has his outside interest that fills all his
time. The distant duty-very attrac-
tive, I don't deny-claims them entire
ly, and they are not conscious Of the
duty near at hand. I fear they will
have their trouble for their pains. Each
persons base of operations Is the field
of his immediate duty. Neglect this
field, and all you undertake at dis
tance is compromised. First, then, be
Of your own country, your own city,
your own home, your own church, your
own workshop; then, II you can, set out
from this to go beyond 1t. That is the
plain and natural order, and man must
fortify himself with very bad reasons
to arrive at reversing II. AT all events,
the result Of SO strange a confusion Of
duties Is that many people employ
their time in all sorts Of affairs except
those In which we have right to de-
mand it. Each Is occupied with some
thing else than what concerns him, is
absent from his post, ignores his trade.
This Is what complexities life. And 1t
would be SO simple for each one to be
about his own matter.
Another form Of simple duty. When
damage is done who should repair 1t?
He who did 1t. This is Just, but It is
only theory, and the consequence Of
following the theory would be the evil
in force until the malefactors were
found and had Offset II. But suppose
they are not found, or suppose they
cannot or will not make amends?
The rain falls on your head through
a hole In the roof or the wind blows
n at broken window. Will you wait
10 find the mgu who caused the mis-
chicfa You would certainly think that
absurd. And yet such Is often the prac-
tice. Children Indignantly protest. II
didn't put 1t there. and I shall not take
It away And most men reason after
the same fashion. 1t Is logic. But it
Ia not the kind Of logic that makes the
world move forward.
On the contrary, what we must learn
and what life repeats to us daily Is
that the injury done by one must be
repaired by another. One tears down,
another builds up; one defaces. anoth-
Z. restores; one stirs up quarrels, an
sther appeases them; one makes tears
TO flow. another wipes them away; one
lives for evil doing, another dies for
the right And In the workings Of this
grievous law Hes salvation. This also
Is logic. but logic of facts which
makes the logic of theories pale. The
conclusion of the matter is not doubt
full. A single hearted man draws 1t
thus: Given the evil. the great thing is
to make 1t good and to set about 1t ON
the spot Well indeed IL Messrs. the
Maiefactors will contribute to the rep
aration, but experience warns us not
to count too much on their aid.
But, however simple duty may be,
there is still need Of strength to do 1t.
In what does this strength consist or
where Is 1t found? One could scarcely
tire Of asking. Duty is for man an
enemy and an intruder so long as II
appears as an appeal from without
When 1t comes In through the door he
leaves by the window; when 1t blocks
up the windows he escapes by the roof
The more plainly we see 1t coming the
more surely we fee. 1t Is like those
police, representatives of public order
and official justice, whom an adroit
thief succeeds in evading. Alas. the
officer. though he finally collar the
thief. can only conduct him to the sta
ton, not along the right road. Before
man Is able to accomplish his duty he
must fall into the hands OF another
power than that which says "Do this,
do that; shun this, shun that, or else
bewarer'
This is an interior power; 1t is love.
When q man hates his work or goes
about 1t with indifference all the forces
Of earth cannot make him follow II
with enthusiasm, but he who loves his
office moves OF himself; not only is It
needless 10 compel him, but 1t would
be impossible to turn him aside. And
this IL true Of everybody. The great
thing is to have felt the sanctity and
immortal beauty in our obscure desti-
ny; to have been led by a series Of ex-
periences to love this life for Its griefs
and Its hopesi to love men for their
weakness apd their greatness and to
belong to humanity through the heart,
the intelligence and the soul. Then an
unknown power takes possession of us.
as the wind OF the sails Of ship. and
bears US toward pity and justice. and.
yielding to, It's irresistible impulse, we
say, II cannot help It; something Is
there stronger than l." In so saying
the men of all times and places have
designated u power that Is above hui
manity, but which may dwell In mems
hearts. And everything truly lofty
within us appears to US as manifes-
tation Of this mystery beyond. Noble
feelings, like great thoughts and deeds,
are things of inspiration. When the
tree buds and bears fruit 1t is because
II draws vital forces from the soil and
receives light and warmth from the
sun. IL q man, In his humble sphere
In the midst OF the ignorance ana faults
that are his inevitably, consecrates
himself sincerely to his task. 1t Ii be-
cause he is in contact with the eternal
source of goodness. This central force
manifests itself under thousand
forms. Sometimes II Is indomitable
energy; sometimes winning tenderness
sometimes the militant spirit that
grnsps and uproots the evil; sometimes
maternal solicitude. gathering to its
arms from the wayside wkere It was
perishing, some bruised and forgotten
life: sometimes the humble patience OF
long research. All that 1t touches bears
its seal, and the men 1t inspires know
that through Il we live and have oui
being. To serve II is their pleasure
and reward. They are satisfied to be
its instruments. and they no longer
look mt the outward glory of their or
flcc, well knowing that nothing is great
nothing small, but that our life md
our deeds are only OF worth because OF
the spirit which breathes through them
y fro BE Continued
Won Lenbach the Painter.
Franz Won Lenbach, the great por
trait painter. painted three portraits
of the poet Adolph Wilbrandt. The SIT