Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13

9OS
brighter future than would have dreamed of
than would have been possible without it If
can get real hne, appet1z1ng dividends from our
mistakes they prove themselves not losses but wise
investments. They like old mining shares
laid aside in the lavender of memory of optimism
and by sudden change in the market
proved to be of real value
Realizing mistakes is good; realizing on them is
better When a captain finds his vessel is out of
the right channel, carried by ggence by adverse
winds, or by laundering through fog from the true
course, he wastes time in bemoaning his mistake
but at the first sunburst takes bearings changes
his course, heads bravely toward his harbor, with
renewed courage to make up the time he has lost.
Muslng over the dreams of youth and how little
one may seem to have realized them is dangerous
mental dissipation In very small doses it may
stimulate; in larger ones it usually enervates. 1t
overemphaszes the past at the expense of the pres
1t might have been" is the lullaby of regret with
which often put to sleep their best efforts. We
do not need narcotics in life so much need
tones We may speculatively try to reconstruct
our life from some date in the past when might
have done differently. We build on a dead f."
This is the most foolish brand of air castle.
Life's Slippery Ifs"
WE go back in memory to some fork of the road in
'" life and think what would have happened and
how wondrously better it would have been had
taken the other turning of the road. IF we had
learned some other business" If we had gone
west in 1884; " " If we had married one else "
Z" If we had bought telephone stock when it was 49,
If we had taken different course in education;
If we had only spent certain money in some other
thought the slippery Ifs" Even if these
courses would have been wiser, it is impossible
change them for the human race to go back
to the original bit of protoplasm from which science
declares evolved. The past does belong
to us-it would be useless if it did-it is only the
golden present that is ours to transform into
past will be JOY to look back to in the years
The other road always looks attractive Distant
sails always white; far off hills always seem
green. 1t may perhaps have been the poorer road
after all, could our Imagination with perfect
vision the inality of its possibility The other road
might have meant wealth, but not happiness fame
might have filled with the sweet music of
praise, but the hand of love that trustingy
in ours might have been denied us; Death itself
might have earlier to his touch stied the
beating of heart hold dearer than
What the other road might have meant no eternity
of thought could reveal omnipOtence could en-
able us to walk therein even if we wished
We cannot relive mistakes; but make
them the of future immunity from the folly
that caused them. If we impatient yesterday
it should inspire to be patient to-day
Yesterdays anger may be the seed of to-days
To-day kindness should be the form assumed
by our regret at yesterdays cruelty Our unfairness
to may open eyes the possibility of greater
fairness to hundreds. Injustice to one that may
to have cost much, may really have cost
little if makes us more kind, tender, and thought
full for long years.
1t is greater mistake to in purpose, in aim,
in principle, than in method of attaining these The
method may be modified easily; to change the pur-
pose may change the whole life 1t is easier in mid
to change the direction of the course than
change the cargo. Right principles vital and
primary. They bring the maximum of profit from
mistakes, reduce their friction to a minimum.
False pride perpetuates mistakes deters from
confessing them, debars from repairing them and
ceasing them. False pride makes eclipse him
self with himself
Peculiar Attitude Toward Mistakes
MANS attitude toward his mistakes is various and