Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-31
The Ideal as to the Useful Life.

THE Ideal as to the Useful Life.
| doubt if ever in the history of the
human race 50 many people were reach
ing ont toward ideals Of usefulness as
now,
Perhaps this is because there are so
many individual creedS. and so mucl9
liberty of belief Is granted to evolving
humanity.
When plants are crowded into small
space. and compelled to push up through
the same aperture. they grow sckly and
many of them die for lack of enough
soil.
When each is allowed his own freedom
and can look at the sun from its own
standpoint, they grow vigorous and
strong. Different plants require different
soil and varying degrees of the suns
rays.
Each soul today con. if it will. see
God in its own way. and worship Him
according to its own light. and its own
power to see light. 1t is not an age of
churclr-going. but il is an age of incrcas-
ing spiritual hunger
Long ago | used to think it would be
Il great thing for the world were there
only one great church, one creed for
all humanity.
But l have come TO realize what
mere form such a religion would be-
come. with a few tigureheads in author
ity, and no individual thinking done by
the masses of humanity.
The more creeds the better for the
evolving race.
The one thing to desire is that each
soul lives up to the highest requirements
Of his faith.
What is called metaphysical thought.
has possession of three-fourths of the
intelligent people of the Englishspeak-
ing world today.
1t is a line of thought rs old as the
universe and is nutritious for the mind.
as whole wheat bread for the body
young woman who has no money
has fallen into this line of thought. and
she is anxious to make her life a bless
ing to the world. Just how to live an
unseltish and worthy life. and benefit
the race, puzzles her as it does many
older people.
Thousands of men and women are
wishing they could be of use to llu-
manity. and are continually negectins
habits and manners which help to make
life unpleasant for others about them.
We cannot do good to others until we
are good to ourselves. We cannot make
others better until we make the best OF
ourselves
The very first duty we owe to the Gre
ator is to finish ourselves,
That is the work which is given us to
do.
Body, mind and spirit, must all unite
to form the perfected human being. So
long as we live in the body, we must
give it attention, and make it attractive
as the home of the spirit, and the splr-
its messenger. the mind.
Orderly habits, becoming and Well
Worn clothing, agreeable voices, correct
language, proper pronunciation an at,
tractive manner, are all steps toward
living an unselfsh and useful life. They
help to beautify the earth.
An attractive manner neceSSltateS an
easy, graceful pOise of the body. good
carriage, a knowledge of how 70 sit.
stand and walk. and the ability To listen
Well Careful table manners are impor-
tant factors in an unselhsh life. Nothing
Is more selfish than spelling the meal
hours for others by spread elbows. audi
bile eating and the toothpick habit.
The habit of self-reliance and the ahii-
ity to make ones own enjoyment, Is an
other unsefsh habit The woman who
IS forever relying upon others TO enter
tain her or to open ways for her to Ell
terrain herself, can never he great
helper in the world.
To sum up-the cultivation of all tie
agreeable and pleasing qualities, the self
celiance which develops mental resources
for enjoyment thoughtful lines for 9th
erS in small things. an avoidance or
rejoices in the pleasures of Others AID
>ympathizes with their troubles. and
knows how TO divert the minds of the
sad to hope and cheerfulness, this is the
practical method to help humanity and
make the world better
She who does this will be given larger
tasks afterward.
And this preparation requires no CAPT
tai -
Observation. perseverance. memory and
attention. self-control, selfdenial and
continued belief in our ability to attain
Tie ideal-these are all that are needed
o obtain the result
She who makes herself an unSelf>l
aud agreeable woman does more for '-e
world than she who neglects her woman
h2od while trying to DO charitable work
IT Is a truism that charity begins N
home. And it begins with ones self
Hulid first yourself-and other structure
VII he given you to huild.--Ella Wheelel
ilcox in Philadelphia Evening Bulletin