Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-25
Sunday Morning Talk.
On Living Ones Life Over Again.

On L1F1lS OHS Lilo OSSi
"Oh, how 1 wish 1 could live my life
over again. The speaker sat across the
aisle from me on the railway train and adj
dressed his remark to a man about his
own age Both were elderly men and the
one accosted replied: well, it wouldn't be
half bad to have another chance" And
then both relapsed into silence for u time,
as if they were living over in memory the
days when they were boys and young men.
The incident set me to thinking about
the desire that comes to most OF us sooner
or later to live our lives over again, 1t
is usually due, first of all. to realization
of the mistakes made, and wish to re-
trieYe them. oh, why did we buy that
corner lot when it deprecated Immediately
in our hands? Why did we choose the
course we did al a critical moment? SO far
Why did we say that mean thing TO one we
loved so much twenty years ago and more?
We would give half our possessions today
to blot it from our memories.
Then, again, we cOVet the chance to re-
live our lives, because we think we would
more quickly avail ourselves of the oppor-
tunities that came our way. on, TO go
through school or college again; we
wouldn't loaf away our days. would WEI
Oh, to face once more the chance to enter
upon a delightful and profitable career that
we ignored when within our reach!
And sometimes, too, we think we would
like to retrace our way simply to retaste
the joys that once were and have gone
never to return. Almost every one of us
carries in memory some fair image or the
past, the day when our beloved one pledged
her troth TO US, the day when the cooling
of q child was first heard beneath our roof.
the hour when we scored that victory on
the athletic field, and were carried OH the
field on the shoulders of our comrades amid
the huZzahS of the crowd, the day when
we scaled a famous lofty mountain peak
and felt the eXhilaraton of the climb ana
nh fe- Z hnG yhnT
we drained the cup of joy 20 Its dregs
Why we would almost be Wiling TO I'VE
our lives over again, even their mistakes,
failures and sins, for the sake or freshly
experiencing these radiant, unforgettabie
moments Almost, We say, for, after au
when we talk about living our lives over W
usually have In mind career whlch would
be free from the errors ana shortcoh NJ X
which disfigure our past. Not many or US
vsould really care to live our lives over UNI
less because of the lessons learned In laIer
wears we could make better record.
Well is such a feeling as TINS a "hoie-
80 CO. o,aq No and yes. NO. IL il makes
ne morbid, remorseful and supine Yes, II
II prompts us TO confess irahkiy our ms
takes. in order to escape Duplicating thei1
in time TO come AS Phillips BROOKS once
said. ..The only thing We have TO do with
nur mast is TO get a future out or X.
Apd why waste strength and nervous
force in vain regrets when. as u IlidtteL -,
fact we are living our lives over again
every day? That is to say, VIC repeat GER
tain normal physical processes. The Tore
ground of our life may change It's scenery
and color. but the background Is unchans-
ing. With us always are the great ele-
mental abiding obligations 10 cur hfnG.eu'
our friends and the world at large. we
NAV not be able longer to smooth the brow
of our beloved dead. but we can to-day
minister tenderiy to our beloved Living we
may not seize to-day that Opportunity OF
decade ago, but nightfall VII not come
without bringing US some other a-3d perhaps
equally good opportunity.
We need to get the perspective or the
wears when we discuss such subject 3s
this There Is vastly longer stretch OF
time before US than there IS behind even
the Oldest of us. Edward Beecher, the tai-
ented divine and kinsman of Henry " ara
I3eecher. once replied to d man who bad
praised him for some good deed ~ SAVING:
mfr Beecher you ought 10 i've forever
well sir | expect to-" To those o. us
who count ON Immortality Z is vastly bet
fer to go forward than backward Not
backward to the Innocence OF untempted
Childhood but forward to rhe virtues of
proved ma hood: not backward TO the care
less. happy days of youth, bus forward 30
the ennobling responsibilities Of mature
life. not backward to the chance that came
our way yesterday. but forward to tomor-
rows certain opportunity
THE PRISON.