The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-19
difficulty. such as Bunyan's Christian

Ella Wheeler Wilcox's lines may
not be very exalted poetry, but they
are full of wisdom:
1t is easy enough to be pleasant
When life moves along like a song,
BUT the man worth while
L. the man who will smile
There are no shortcuts or round
about ways to life's best things. On
MS way, Pilgrim was overtaken by
two men who came tumbling over the
renee Mr.. Journalist and Mr.. Hypo-
cr1sy. They thought themselves better
off than Christian because they had
not suffered his previous hard ex-
was reached they turned aside from
the ascent into byways which they
supposed would join the main path
on the other side of the hill There
lore they We're resolved to go on those
ways. Now the name of one
Of those ways was Danger
and the name of the other De-
struction.) So the one took the
way which is called Danger, which led
him into great Wood; and the other
took directly up the way to 'Destruc-
ton, which led him into a wide field
fun OF dark mountains, where he
stumbled and fell. and rose no more.'
There is one best way to every goal,
and the wise traveller follows that in
spite Of hindrances.
The highest mountain may be
climbed only one step at a time. Once
assembled snow-capped Fujiyama. in
Japan; and friends who knew the
mountain, but who never mastered it,
thought the feat a considerable
achievement But really it was like
going up the bluff at Yokohama, only
more so. The fourteen thousand feet
were not surmounted all at once but
only step by step. One step UP Full is
no harder than one step up a terraced
n Ivy l10
tition of little victories that brings the
complete conquest. So Hfe's difficult
ties are to be met day at time. Per
severance in small acts of patience
and resolution brings one to the top
OF the mountains of character and res
olution.
All prizes are for the winning.
We're they to be had for everybody's
reaching they would not be prizes
There are rest houses on all up
ward roads. Alas. though, many
travellers make these places of So
journ their permanent abodes. No
more pitiable spectacle can be found !
in the whole field of ambitious en- |
deavor than the easy satisfaction of
many persons. They stop too soon !
At the end of the first stage, they
ready reached the top. They are con- |
tent to look in self-congratulation |
upon the many below them, rather
them. The lower arbors of the noun !
tain Of success are thronged; it is at |
the top that there is room
Rest is proper, but if it is not
grim slept in the arbor, long after he
should have been climbing.
There is no rest this side of the
Celestial city for those who set out
upon Christ's ascending way of sal
walton and service.
A few days ago it was discovered
that there are numerous students in
the professional schools of New York
who entered upon fraudulently OBJ
tanned regents certificates. Now the
authorities are Identifying these, and
compelling them to go back to the be-
ginning. take an honest examination,
and start all over again. Some of
these men have spent years of time,
and a great deal of money. upon the
course which they entered wrongly.
Now like Christian after his lost roll,
they must retrace their steps after
much labor and suffering. Eternal
vigilance is the price of all things.
"Well begun is half DONE"
On his way up the Hill Difficulty,
the beIated Pilgrim met two scared
Timorous and the other Mistrust.
They had seen lions in the way and
were off in panic. Now the real
trouble was not in the lions in front
of them, but in the lack of lions with
in them. If they had carried lions in
their breasts none of the beasts on
life's pilgrimage could alright them.
1t is ont the difficulties we meet, but
the spirit IN which we meet them
which really counts, after all.
There are no Hills of Difficulty so
high as the heart of a brave man.
obstacles are things to be over
come"
Touch the object that frightens
you" is the wise advice of the parent
to a child who is afraid in the dark.
Most difficulties disappear or become
them.
1.-THE distant pyramids of stone,
Which, wedge-like. cleave the
desert airs.
When nearer seen, and better
known,
Are but gigantic flights of stairs"
The lions in Christians way proved,
after all to be chained. They were
no menace to him. despite the fearful
rumors he had heard. A safe rule for
all travellers on the highway of life
is to go straight ahead, and barriers
will disappear as they advance. God
is pledged to make a way for the man
who follows the path which he has
marked out.
Everybody, like Christian, has had
reason to be glad of the advice which
he did not take.
The goal vindicates the journey.
Obstacles conquered are strength
gained.
"It's logged as does it, says the
proverb. The straight ahead plodder
arrives before the swift spurters or