The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-20
SOME PFNSATION
IN EVERY LIFE
What Emerson Says of the
Theory of Loss and
Gain

The theory, doctrine or philosophy,
call it what you will, of compensation,
is thoroughly believed in by many per-
sons who may not know exactly how 20
explain what it means. 1t is a difficult
doctrine to put into words, but one of
the best things ever written on the
subject is Emerson's essay, entitled
Compensation" A man has recently
written book on this topic by which
he, accounts for almost everything in
the universe on that theory, even find
ing in it an argument for Immortality
and for most orthodox views on the
subject OF a future state.
1t is almost impossible to disregard
the theory of compensation in our own
lives, for we constantly see it: more,
perhaps in small things, than in large.
1t is in way the following out of the
old saying, 1T is an i'll wind that blows
nobody good" For every loss a cor
responding gain; denied by some, it is
firmly believed in by others and the
faith in it certainly makes life more
tolerable. 1t involves, too, sort of
justice here which evenS things up
pleasantly and makes the greatest suf-
ferer feel that there are compenSa-
lions in every state. For, ask almost
ally HAL, IC ItdlltI HOW OUSCuICs INV
unfortunately placed, whether he
would change estates with So and So
perhaps one of the most fortunate OF
persons-and it is doubtful if he would
be- willing. For there is something
which he would lose by that exchange
which the other man might not have;
a friend, the love of somebody or an
experience which proved valuable and
without which he would consider him.
self bereft. In explaining what this
thing Of compensation really is, Elmer
son says:
The same duaiism underlies the ma
ture and condition Of man. Every ex-
cess causes a defect; every defect an
excess. Every sweet hath its sour;
every evil it's good. Every faculty
which is receiver of pleasure has an
equal penalty put on it's abuse. 1t is
to answer for its moderation with it1
life. For every grain Of wit there is a
grain of folly. For everything you have
missed, you have gained something
else; and for everything you gain, you
lose something. IL riches increase, they
are increased that use them. If the
gatherer gathers too much, nature
takes out of the man what she puts
into his chest; swells the estate but
kills the owner. Nature hates monop-
olies and exceptions. The waves of
the sea do not more speedily seek a
1SSti IIOlil lIlGlI IOItieSC tIfdt
the varieties of condition tend to equal
iZe themselves"
- And how truly do we see this day
after day; in our own lives, in those Of
our friends, nay, even of our enemies If
we may possess such unpleasant things
The mah in high place who may be the
envy of his fellows, in his secret soul
perhaps would give all his power fer
something his lowliest brother may
possess. He may even regard some
real friendship as compensation for the
penalty of being constantly before the
public gaze. How few of us can truly
say. even If life has gone very wrong
indeed, that there are no compensa-
lions in our experience. For there are
what might be called high places in
life, sometimes moment, the compre-
hension of a friend, a fleeing illumina-
ton which makes difficult things plain
these are all worth while to the dis
corning. Life is seldom all gray clouds,
or all steady sunshine; perhaps the
latter would be less good for us than
the clouds, and who could appreciate
the sun without the cloud? Emerson
says that every act rewards itself; that
is, if we do evil. we reap evil, but if we
constantly give of the best, it comes
back tenfold. Love and you shall be
loved: give friendship, sincere and
true, and you will never be without a
friend. Even awful calamities work
out some good. But best of all is the sure
compensation which comes to- and safe
ty which encompasses, the man who
has lived justly and has no crop of evil
deeds to reap in his old age.