The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-10-15

prevent the operation of natural law.
He must suffer the consequences. At
first thought it seems cruel but upon
reflection we see that in no other way
can his life be made safe from fire.
And following this method Of teaching
ty experience, the only successful
method possible, nature Is constantly
permitting us to suffer the minimum
in penalty in order to escape the maxi
mum of pain. 1t Is legal maxim that
ignorance of the law excuses no man.
This may sometimes work an apparent
hardship, but there is TO other way in
which society can be protected; no
other way to secure the greatest good
to the greatest number. So if we ig-
nOrantly violate law, either statutory
or natural, we must suffer for it.
Ignorance is the parent of all suffer
ing. Happiness is the offspring OF
wisdom. Again let it be stated, that
every cause must work out its natural
effect We may do an indiscreet thing
in youth and still suffer for it in old
age, long after we have apparently
learned our lesson, and perhaps after
we have forgotten its origin.
There are two things we may do with
our lives: We may drift aimlessIy on
like the rudderless ship or We may
take firmly hold of ourselves and make
| uafo on1 ra mid urorroco r. 10 a colo,,
did thing to know that we may rely
upon the law of cause and effect as
! confidently as On the law of gravity,
and that certain metho of thinking
and acting will produce certain results.
1t is a splendid thing to know that we
have nothing in the universe to fear
except ourselves, and that no possible
harm can come to us except as the re-
suit of our own thoughts and acts.
Once that fact is firmly grasped all the
liends of fear will vanish. One of the
FIRST things we should do is to stop evil
thinking of every description. We
should check all upkind thought Of
everybody. 1t we can not love our en-
emies, We can at least stop hating them;
, and as surely as we do that we shall
, finally have no enemies. If man
sends against you thought of hatred
and you meet it with another this de-
, structive, disintegrating thought-force
is multiplied But if you meet it with
a kindly thought it is neutrslized.
Kindly thought is shield which thear-
rows of malice can not penetrate.
Think kindly of all and nothing can
harm you. Our safety is In our own
hands.
: Not only should the thought-force
be wisely and bene6cently directed to-
ward others, but our general attitude
must be right if we would get the most
from life. No matter how hard our
temporary condition may be we only
= make it worse by worry. Most things
people worry about never come to pass
: and worrying only increases the trouble
. if they do. Some good people worry SO
much they would not know good cheer
if it came their way. You can't worry
: and be logical. Victor Hugo expressed
this wholesome trustfulness i'm the san
: ity of the universe in beautiful words:
"The snow of winter is on my head but
eternal spring is in my heart. Do your
!. duty and at the end of life do not fear
to go to sleep. God is awake"
>. 1t literally pays to be sunny. Any
0 thing as cheap as smiles ought 10 be
plentiful. A smile is q ray of light
e from the soul. 1t is a fash of Deity
J. translated into matter. Laugh and
. the world laughs with yOu," says Ella
Wheeler Wilcox. We need not wait
/ until death for either heaven or he'll.
: Both are within reach, and we can take
y our choice now. These words indicate
- different spiritual conditions. Jesus
r put it into such clear and simple lam
guage that all could comprehend when
he said, "the kingdom OF heaven is
within you." Literally this is true for
by the conscious exercise of this fate
making faculty of Thought, we can be
generous and sunny and tolerant, and
q win the smiles of every one, or we can
E be miserable and unhappy. II we
8. would get from this old world all the
Is JOY that life can give, we must learn
y that there is no such thing as acciden,
9 or chance, but that each human being
D. Is the master of his destiny.
ot A. II. T., San francisco Calf.