The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-21
The Throne Of individuality.
The Circle.

EVERY MAN REIGNS A KING-on the
throne of his individuality. He should not
only reign but rule His individuality is
his true self, his nest SELF his highest SELF his
self victorious. His thoughts, hts words, his
acts. his habits, uis feelings. land his powers
are his subjects. He mu 81 rule them or they
will finally tear from his feeble fingers the
reins OF govern ment and rule him. Man
reigns over the miniature kingdom OF self as
actually as God rules tue universe. Let him
dra W around him the royal robes Of his king
dom aud nee life with new, grand, simple
dignity. When God "created man In His own
Image" His first gift to him was dominion
and the greatest dominion is over SELF Map
must reign and reign alone-how he shall
feifI The WoRLD NEEDS MORE 1NDIvID-
UALITY Tin It's men and women. 1t needs
men and women with JOY OF freedom IN
their minds. the red hlooo OF purpose IN their
hearts, and the courage of truth In their souls
They should feei Il privilege to live bravely
on the higher levels OF life fighting on for
what they feel IL right, .undaunted by trial,
sorrow, and failure. Their hearts should
be ever fresh, simple, slDcere, sweet, despite
all the worlds Injustice. Through their
whole natures should surge the gk d, fnspl-
ring consciousness that they are lot mere
units on census list, not human bricks
nodded In deadly uniformity by conveniali-
", but themseI eIves.tndiyiduals., or course,
It Is not no easyt t, was h not intenaed 10 De easy
0qi iNpivIDUAIITY Hd I Il aII1 IS THE ONLY REAL
LIFE. 1t ls breathing the ozone oil mental,
moral, spiritual freedom. All other llvipg
Is an excuse. substitute, a: near thing. Ma.
ture put her stamp OF individuality on every
man. Some people seem TO spend most OF
the time trying 10 soak OF the stamp: Tney
wear q uniform OF oplniou, they seek to keep
In step with the line. they march In solid
sameness along the com forta bly, paved road
of other peoples think. Nature intended
life as an individual problem, different for
each man; she wants an individual solution.
Individuality means self knowledge, self
confidence, self reliance self potse, self con.
troll, self conquest. II means the fullest, freest
expression OF our finest self, as the most per-
feet rose best represents the plant 1t is the
complete. self acting unity OF mans whole
mind, nature, heart, and life. It is moved
ever from within. not without. The automo-
bile is type OF individuality,it is neither
forces; 1t is self inspired, self directed and
self moving
THE CONQUEST OF INDIVIDUALITY
Wead % bring I % forth for Ourselves "a and for others
the fullest, sweetest music of living we must
put self. the instrument, In best condition.
The violinint knows he must tune his violin
to its perfection In order TO bring forth 1ts
truest, purest notes. Bnt suppose he should
say: "Ihe bridge is broken. two strings have
snapped. the sounding hoard is warped, the
tune. but will do the pest can az 1t is''-it
would seem sheer folly. He realizes we'll bow.
ever, that he must first put his violin in per-
feet order; then he may seek to play bis pest.
around as and, through widening circles OF
Influence, to the whole world, II we do not
m master any trait that keeps us from our best.
We should do Iit today; Today lo is the tom6 ,1
our past ends in today; all our future begins
- LET Us SEEK TO REIGN NoBLY on the
day, filling every moment Of every hour with
our fin est, unseltsh best Then there would
come tous vision OF the golden glory OF the
sunlit heiR hts. such glad. glowing tonic OF
the higher levels OF life, that we could never
dwell again In the darkeped valley OF ordi-
nary living without feeling shut In. stiied,
and hungry for the freer air and the broader
outlook.
Were we suddenly to have made luminant
to US in every vivid detail the wondrous In.
1uence OF our daily lives We would stand
stunned by the revelation as did Moses be-
ize the possibility OF our reign on the throne
OF our ipdi viduality, q nd the pettiness Of our
selfshness and OF al he other lower quaiities
In our nature would be revealed In their hu'
II at the close OF day we think OF even one
human being whose sky has been darkened
by our selfshDePs, one whose burden has
whose pillow will be wet with sobs for our
Injustice, one whose faith In humanity has
been weakened at crucial moment by our
bitterness or cruelty, let us make quick atom
pels us to write, while foolish pride would
stay the hand; let us speak the confession
that will glortry the lips we fear they may
humiliate; let as stretch out the hand OF love
In the darkness TIL IT touches and ipsptres
the faithful opc that never caused us pain.
LET US HAVE THAT GREAT PRIDE IN
our Individuality that would scorn to let pet
ty pique or vanity keep us from doing what
we snow Is right. no matter what the cost.
Wear the robes of your royal pride In such
kingy fashion that 1t would not seem sacri.
tiee 10 stoop 10 brush off that which might
stain them,
Let us seek fairly, sauarely. and gealously
TO discover the dement's within .us from our
best, and fight day by day and hour by hour
I'LL they be vaD4uished and we victorious:
Let us live with our faces turned ever copr-
ageously TO the east FOR the faintest sunrise
Of new inspiration. Let us realiSe that the
four supporters OF the throne Of ofindividuality
are Right, Justice, Truth. and Love. Let us
make Right ona highest guide, Justice our
finest aim. Truth our final revelation, and
Love the constant atmosphere .of our living
They truly will reign and rule.