The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-08-24
HOW TO Be OF
USE TO HUMANITY
lBx Ella Wheeler Wilcox

| doubt If ever in the history of
the human race SO many people were
reaching out toward ideals of use
fulness and unselfishness as now.
Perhaps this is because there are so
many individual creeds, and so much
liberty of belief is granted to evolv-
ing humanity.
When plants are crowded into
small space, and compelled to push
up through the same aperture, they
grow sickly and many of them die
for lack of enough soil.
When each is allowed its own free
dom and can look at the sun from
its own standpoint, they grow vigor-
GUS and strong. Different plants re-
quire different soil and varying de-
grees of the suns rays.
Each soul today can, if it will, see
God in its own way, and worship Him
according to it's own light, and its
own power to see light. 1t is not
an age of church-going, but it is an
age of increasing spiritual hunger.
Long ago l used to think it would
be great thing for the world were
there only one great church, one
creed for all humanity.
But | have come to realize what a
mere form such a religion would be-
come, with a few figureheads in au-
thority, 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 require
ments of his faith.
What is called metaphysical
thought has possession of three
fourths of the intelligent people OF
the English speaking world today.
1t is line of thought as old as the
universe, and is as nutritious for the
mind as whole wheat bread for the
body.
A young woman who has no money
has fallen into this line of thought
and she is anxious to make her life
a blessing to the world. Just how
to live an unselfish 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 hui
mainly, and are continually neglect
ing 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 can
not make others better until we make
the best of ourselves.
The very first duty we owe to the
Creator 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 spirits messenger, the
mind.
Orderly habits, becoming and we'll
worn clothing, agreeable voices, cor
rect language, proper pronunciation
an attractive manner, are all steps to-
ward living an unselfish and useful
life. They help to beautify the earth
An attractive manner necessitates
an easy, graceful poise of the body, q
good carriage, knowledge of how tC
sit, stand and walk, and the ability tc
listen we'll. Careful table manners
are important factors in an unselfisf
life. Nothing is more selfish thar
spelling the meal hours for others by
spread elbows, audible eating and the
toothpick habit.
The habit of self-reliance and the
ability to make ones own enjoyment
is another unselfish habit. The wo
man who is forever relying upon
others to entertain her or to oper
ways for her to entertain herself, car
never be great helper in the world
To sum up-the cultivation of al
the agreeable and pleasing qualities
the self-reliance which develops men
tai resources for enjoyment, thought
full lines for others in small things
an avoidance of gossip and tale-bear
ing, nature which rejoices in the
pleasures of others and sympathize.
with their troubles, and knows how
to divert the minds of the sad to hope
and cheerfulness, this is the practira
method to "help humanity ant
make "the world BETTER
She who does this will be giver
larger tasks afterward.
And this preparation requires nc
capital.
Observation, perseverance, mem
DRY and attention, self-control, self
denial and continued belief in oul
ability to attain the ideal-these are
all that are needed to obtain the re
suit.
She who makes herself an unset
fish and agreeable woman does more
for the world than she who neglect.
her wonmanhood while trying to de
charitable work.
1t is truism that charity begin!
at home. And it begins with one.
self. Build first yourself-and othel
structures will be given you to build