The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-09-28

some tnobtns ago tuc cultot VI
asked me to answer the |
questions
take pleasure 10 giving my reply |
through the columns OF the Miner.
/. What Is happinessg
?. Is happiness within the reach |
Of the average persony
3. Is happiness desirables
IL happiness were possible would |
not great incentive To human en-
deasor be removed?
5. What Is the chief aim Of lifeY
Happiness, to my thinking, Is the
state OF mind which enables us TO be
grateful for the boon OF life and TO
rejoice with the rising Of each sun
that another day has dawned for our
use.
Happiness Is within the reach OF
every individual who Is willing TO
develop his higher qualities and TO
control his lover and more selfish
nature. Not until he realizes that
this Is the foundation OF happiness,
however, can we hope for this effort
on the part OF the average human
being, The great majority OF people
imagine happiness means possession
OF whatever the human heart Graves,
or the human mind desires.
A very little observation will prove
to the most casual thinker how er.
roneous is that conception OF the
word.
Our multi-millionaires are In pos
session OF whatever they desire, but
1t would be unwise to point to any
one as happy man.
The child with Its toys on Christ.
mas morning, the lover and maid In
their tirst bliss, the young bride and
groom, the mother with her first
born, the girl at her first bali. all
are happy in one sense OF the word.
But IL is an ephemeral and teverish
happiness, oitimes, and beside II
walks the specter Of fear, and the
ogre Of change.
The toys are broken! The lovers
are tormented with Jealousy The
bride aud groom and the young
mother fear death or disaster, and
the young girl is succeeded by rival
at her second ball, and happiness
dwells no longer beside any OF these.
The man who makes fortune by
the rise Of stocks is happy for day
the warrior VITO receives decoration
for bravery and the scholar who car
ries away the honofs Of his class II
happy.
But these are all passing condi
tions, not settled states OF mind, anc
they cannot be called happiness ab'
solute
Real happiness must rest on th'
foundation of unselhshness. 1t mus
spring from the consciousness Of use
fulness, and IL must be one with
faith. 1t must forget It's own goa
10 helping Others To find theirs
Only this kind OF happiness Is de
ssrable.
The happiness which means graft
fed ambition and appetite is not
high and noble aim for any soul h
seek. Aud gratitied ambitions ant
sa, isied appetites do not result II
happiness, but In safety and discon
tent. III such happiness were pos
ntl t.aA al ltst q
human endeavor would be removed
FLOR 1t Is the ceaseless striving to
ward other goals than the on
achieved, which spurs men on TO ne'
effort. The chief aim OF lie Is rc
garded by thousands OF people as th
: attainment OF happiness-persona
qualifications. The chief aim OF III
intended by the great Creator, Is III
: perfecting OF character. the bringin
out OF the God within. The momen
a human lieing grasps this fact he
: on the road to happiness. For whal
: ever sorrowful experience comes /
him he will turn IT toward self-deye
opment and find his happiness IN II
u knowledge that he Is working towar
= self-completion.
i Only when man knows that /
+ can never be happy In doing one az
: or harboring one thought which ca
j. lower him mentally or morally or ca
'e nar the life OF another, he Is on u
y right road TO real happiness. Aeali
: so eagerly and madly pursued by Il
&c majority OF men has little To do wit
. happiness.
!" Idleness Is an absolute foe OF ha
y piness.
* No idle man or woman has al
ie prehension Of the word. Wor
' regarded by many as the curse Sc
u upon man for sin, Is Instead, God
'e highway to the bills OF happiness
@ Not drudgery, but blessed emplo
" ment, which brings all the actiyitI
D. into play and gives a zest TO recrs
tion.
i. Wealth, fame, power, success, po
!. ton, beauty. all OF these are inca
!, able OF producing happiness uni,
the soul is set toward the heights
. God and the heart hlled With I