Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
It Is Early

It Is Early AGO.. . .s.x-
In the morning that our thought can pre-
pare us for the day.
There are few days probably that do not
pass without surprises. Yet few days that
have not in them much that we can antici-
pate readily in the morning. We know GER
tain duties that shall have to perform,
we know of certain people whom we proba-
bly, shall meet: of certain places that we
shall be In: of certain situa tons that prob
ably will confront us; of words must
say.
We know all this beforehand, yet how
often at set of sun realize that in these
things that were expected we have made
mistakes. We knew, for example, that we
were going to our good cousin Bess,
who is delightfully."- confidential and much
given to light hearted gossip. That knowl-
edge should have fortified us against shar-
ing with her any matters that must not
pass on to the public. But somehow under
the spell of her bubbling chatter we know
that our secret has been given-given to
her and hence to the world 1t done
before we thought before we knew 1t
Or let us say we knew that we would have
n TRYING half hour with some business al
fair.
on our guard did not prevent our flying into
a sua,I-sized passion at least losing our
tempers.
or We may have some critical news to
break. That should prepare us to break 1t
gently and well. But we know at the emu
of day that we have Numbered
IT Is this sort of thing that we can prepare
for early in the morning. a good way is 10
go over in our minds the situations that are
likely to arise. and mentally review the pest
course for us to pursue when the time
comes the words We will use, the manner
we will assume our general mental atti-
tude and its outward expression:
This leads to the conduct that is wisely
thoughtful beforehand and avoids the SAD
rata strophe where all ones forethought is
afterthought. The French have the express
sion staircase wit te clever conNersa-
ton and repartee that suggests user on .ne
stairs as one passes out of the house after
The partV Many of us staircase wisdom
as we'll as staircase wit Consult and de-
uberate before thou act, that thou mayest
not commit foolish actions. For it Is the
mart of a miserable man to speak and TO
act without reflection. But do that which
will not affiict thee afterwards, nor obiise
thee to repentance.
A Virtue
Is an excellent topic to revolve In ones
mind not only because our thought power
thereby IS cultivated and along noble lines,
but also because the virtue. with the reflex
influence of the thought. impresses itself
on our characters and what we con-
templatfng we are unconsciously involun
tarily assimiating and resembling.
We remember the little lad in the Great
Stone Face" He watched it every day I'M
til he became like unto it and had all its
beauties writ upon his own lineaments.
So when our thought IS bordering the de-
lightful and most practical virtue of cheer
fulness the heart is acquiring some of the
good cheer that the mind Celebrates. 1t alb
serbs into its own tissue the blood of the
thought,
We can think of a single virtue five min
utes al a time every day for a week or
month, trying to reach its meaning trying
to apply it to our conduct, turning over In
our minds ways in which we can express
this virtue. dwelling upon ats usefulness,
thinking OF it as residing in every human
breast-largely latent, perhaps, yet there
and eduCatahle.
If we are given to irrtabilty can
think OF the virtues of peace and calmnesS
and equilibrium. If we are prone to de-
preston we can dwell on hope and courage;
If we judge hastily. let us dwell awhile on
magnanmity; if we cxaggerate or mtsrep
resent. it will be good to revolve in our
minds the splendors of pure truth.
The virtues taken in succession, month
after month. will help greatly in building
up the character. terrifying its weak places
and enhancing its beauties and strengths.
It
Is In the evening when the day is done
that we remember our salles of staircase
wit" we remember what we did which we
ought not to have done. and what we did
not do which we should have done.
We remember some of it. Our most bla-
tant errors thrust themselves before our
mental vision. But for the most part our