The daily tribune., 1908-12-24
the PURPOSE Of LIFE.
(By J. L. Jordon. J

Life is simply time given to man to
learn how to live. Mistakes are al
ways part Of learning. The real dig
nifty Of life consists in cultivating
fine attitude toward 6ur own mistak 81
aud those of others. Man becomes
great. not through never making
them. but by profting by those he
does make; by being satisfied with u
single rendition Of an unwise act. not
encoring it-into continuous rreform-
anoe; by getting from 1t the honey Of
new Iegenerating inspiration. with
no irritating sting Of useless regret
by building glorious today on the
ruins Of his yesterday; aud by rising
with renewed strength. finer purpose.
and freshened courage every time he
falls.
II we have made an error, done a
wrong, been unjust to another or to
ourselves, passed by, like the Phari-
see, some opportunity for good, we
should have the courage to look our
mistake squarely In the eye and to
acknowledge it frankly with no fiimsy
alibi Of excuse to protect an anemic
self esteem. II we have wronged.
we should right; II we have hurt. we
should heal; If we have taken un-
justly. we should restore; II we have
been unfair, we ould become just.
Regret without regeneration 10 an
emotional gold brick Every posi-
BILE reparation should be made; con-
fession of regret aud inability to
atone be the utmost we can do, let us
at least do that II 1t be impossible
to repay to A the individual we have
wronged. because death has closed tine
doors of stonement forever against
us, let us make the rest of the alphl
bet lie, atses of the love, thouglitful-
ness n lip. kindness. and justice we
owed to A,-paying to humanity cur
debt TO one human being. Those
Tho waKen months or years later to
the realization of q wrong, some i'm 9
feel it IL better to let confession or
lapse, that 1t is too late to
reopen closed account; but men
rarely feel wounded II asked to accept
payment on an old promissory note
outlawed tor years.
Some people like to wander in the
cemetery Of their past errors to re.
read the epitaphs, and to spend hours
in mourning over the grave Of Il
wrong. This is a new mistake that
does not antidote its predecessor
The remorse that paralyzes hope. cor
rodes purpose. and deadens energy Is
only sort of indigestion of the soul
which cannot assimilate an act. 1t
Is cowardly. selfish surrender to the
dominance of the past. 1t does no
good to the injured. to the individ-
ual. to others. or to the world. II the
past Is unworthy, live it down; II
worthy, live up to 1t and surpass It,
We cannot change the past; but.
transformed into new purpose, we
can compel that Ast to change our
future. making 1t q new. larger,
brighter future than we would have
dreamed Of or than would have been
possible without It, II we can get
renl, fine, appetizing dividends from
our mistakes, they prove themselves
not losses but wise Investments
They seem like old mining shares,
laid aside In the lavender Of memory
Of our optimism, aud now by some
sudden change In the market proved
to be Of real value.
Realizing mistakes is good; realiz.
ing on them Is better. When a cap
tain finds his vesssl Is out Of the right
channel. carried by negligence, by
adverse winds, or by blundering
through fog from the true course,
he wastes no time In be moaning his
mistake. but at the first sunburst
takes new bearings, changes his
course. heads brAvely toward his har.
Dor. with renewed courage to make