The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-06-21
MAKING the WORLD BETTER
Improvement Can Come Only by In.
dfvidual Effort.

Improvement Can Come Only by In.
dfviausi Effort.
We hear a great deal OF talk In va
rious associations and conventions
about making the world better. and
there seems 10 be a general belief that
II can he done In some sort OF whole
sale fashion. says the Washington
Post. The Society for the Promotion
Of this. or the League for the Proven
ton OF that. convene. and resolve that
the causes they represent is the great
est on earth. and that II everybody
would subscribe S. TO the cause. or.
on the other hand. II everybody would
stop doing the particular thing which
the league condemns. all would be
well. No one will question the mo.
lives OF the people who get together In
this way, howev.r doubtful OF t.elr
judgment In magnifylng the objects
they sometimes promote. and of the
methods they make use OF. Almost
every III OF the flesh has now spe-
cialist 20 undertake Its cure. and u
may be well that each particular evil
OF society should have those who de
vote themselves 20 Its eradication;
but moral and social transformation
can only take place as chemical
change does, by reaching every unit
In the mass
In the physical world such change
Is mechanical and, comes wholly from
the outside; in the moral world there
must he the influence from the out.
side. which rouses an impulse from
within. In the individual. and as more
and more individuals are moved. the
whole mass Is gradually iesvened. II
Is trite TO say that the world can
grow better only as Its component In
dividnals advance. but It Is a truth
we commonly apply In a very vague
sort OF way 20 mankind. or 20 the
heather, or the poor, or the peop%s
we know, and don't stop to think
that the only way the process VIII
ever begin Is by every on, OF Us. you
who read and we who write, taking
ourselves In hand and making IL the
real business OF our lives, more I'M
portant than getting rich or making
a reputation. 10 grow just n little, be
II ever so little. better every day.
There is no doubt that the building
we do In that way will be more last
ing and give us more satisfaction
than any other structure we can busy
ourselves about. II every day we gain
a little In self-cont-ol and unselfish
ness, and find We can more easily
check the wron- impulse and hold
back the harsh word, and that we
more willingly give up 10 others. we
are working our lives into character
which Is the only really lasting and
satisfactory work we can do.
Some will tell you that 10 bs
saved" you must perform certain
rites. or believe certsIn formulas. and
II you find comfort or satisfaction IL
them. or think they strengthen You
by all means use thsn, and there u
none 20 say you nay; but truly they
are not the essential things. Duty
no matter how simple or humble
faithfully performed, comes first
bave something 10 do. and do II al
we'll rs You can. and In your daily
round. II you can l;G lten another
mans burden by n cheey word. or
smile. or more substantial help, don
fail 10 do H. II you ar, rich. nevei
descend 20 the va. .;arity az arroga &c
or ostentation. or. II powerful. TO thu
cruelty OF oppression. Re kind. be
gentleman always. and. there VIII b'
nothing 10 be saved" from.