The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-01-02
SOLITARY REFLECTION.
It Is often the Best of Balm For Our Wounds.

1t Is Often the Best of Balm for Our Wounds
Once the write knew young man from far
country who remarked gravey: Il can think of no
subject of great interest myself and my family"
The naivete of the young Oriental in making this
honest statement amusing; but who is there
who is not of much the same opinion, even though
reticent about it as matter of good taste?
Many proclaim it more Extensively than did
our young friend, having practically subject of
conversation by themselves, their achievements,
their immediate family and their eminent ancestors.
1t is quite clear that women of this type claims
for little group not merely the center of the STAGE
but the center of the universe.
II good or Ill befall her in hers she cannot stay
quite and alone to think the incident over and get
its bearings. Her whole neighborhood, her whole
social circle must share her pleasure or pain, even
though this come from no higher source than graf
flied or mortified vanity.
Oh, if she would but take a few hours to enjoy
the good words all by herself over her sewing or any
other work she can do in solitude to marvel if she
really deserved them, to resolve to live up to the
ideal which they suggest, and to remember CRATE
fully whatsoever was inspired to give her this en-
enlargement.
The self acknowledge, we'll the self reverence
and self-controh (which the poet bids Us seek, can
never be acquired till first acquire courageous
taste for solitude.
If we think out bravely alone the events of our
lives hardly miss getting at the causes of
our success or failure, and we shall find little in
either to feed our vanity. For our success will
show but a small result beside what our greater
virtues and diligence had attained, and small
as the reward of best efforts beside that worth
lily attained by more gifted fellow-creatures, while
we owe it in large part to the generous counsel
help of others.
For our failures we can rarely, with entire hon
eSty, blame any one but ourselves
Conscience holds the mirror up TO nature in
solitude. We grow humble. which is only another
word for sensible. and compliment which at first
sight merely our just due, inspected in the
light of conscience. becomes generous estimate
for which we are grateful.
A humble, gateful heart is the happy heart and
the best of company for itself; because expecting
little nothing ON its merits, life is full of
sweet surprises and it is pleasant to be alone to
think of the inercies of God and the goodness of
belllow creatures.
Solitary reflection is often the best balm for
heart wounds At least while the wound is new and
singing let us be of and have our first grief or
anger. out with lo@ssd door and curtains drawn.
In the reaction after His belief the matter will look
different. What seemed deadly slight will show
as probable ackwardness or inadvertance, and we
will realize maybe that the arrow In breast has
been barbed by own hands.
Anyhow. the hour OF solitude has Gained US.
The temptation to go forth and seek syspathy is
less strong. Presently our worldly wisdom will
come to our rescue and show us what weak and
dangerous thing it usually is to air grievances
If our grievance is against the rich and power
| full the timorous will fear to show us sympathy
and the mean viii be that we wrong. Our
| imprudence has forged a powerful weapon Tor the
hands of these latter.
| To adopt the words of the prophet and apply
them to our temporal affairs, our lives are more
| often desolated by our owIAunrestraint and I'M
patience of silence and reflection than by any
coming to US from the hands of others,-PIot.