The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-09-30
The E0rla- winning Climb.

An old school-naster, talking to
his class one morning many years
ago, told story Of early experience
he had in Europe. He was one Of a
party travelling in Switzerland.
They had gotten as far as Chamon-
nix, and were planning to climb
Mount Blanc. The peak, you know,
is the highest Of the Alps, and is
called the monarch Of European
mountains. While it is now ascend
ed every day in the season, the climb
IS very difficult task. 1t requires
strength and courage and much
preparation; and is still attended
with such danger that the autilori-
ties Of Chamonnix have laid down
rigid regulations for those who at
tempt it. Ones outfit must be re-
duced to the lowest limit And, of
course, nothing else can be done
while climbing. It absorbs all ones
strength and thought.
There were two parties in the little
square Of the town, making their
preparations with the guides. One
ycung EngIishman disregarded I'll
the directions of the guides. He
loaded himself with things which be
positively declared were essential to
his plans. He had a small case Of
wine and some delicacies for his ap-
petite. He had a camera with which
he proposed to take views Of himself
and his party at different stages of
the climb. He had batch Of note
books in which he intended record
ing his impressions as he proceeded,
which were afterWard to be printed
for the information, and he hoped,
admiration Of the world. A pictur-
esque cap and a gayly coiored blank
ct were part Of his outfit.
The old toughened guides, expert
enced by many g severe tug and
storm in the difficulties ahead, pro
tested earnestly. But it made no
impression on the ambitious youth.
1T last they whispered together, and
allowed him to have his own way.
And the party started. Six hours
later the second party followed. At
the little inn where they spent the
frst nigh the found the wine and
food delicacies- The guides laughed.
The Englishman has found that he
cannot humor his stomach If ne
would climb Mount Blanc" one of
them said grimly. + little farther
up they found the notebook and
calnera; still higher up, the gay robe
and fancy cap had been abandoned.
And at last they found the young
fellow at the summit in leather jack
ct, exhausted and painting for breath.
He had encountered heavy storms,
and reached the top Of the famous
mountain only at the risk Of his life.
But he reached it. He had the real
stuff in him, after all. Yet every
thing not absolutely essential had to
be sacrificed. And his ideas of the
meaning Of the word essential un-
derwent radical changes as he labor
ed up the steep.
Then the old teacher telling the
story suddenly leaned over his desk
and looking earnestly at the class
said: "When | was young planned
out his climb. Food and clothing
and full records Of my experiences
fer the worlds information, figured
in big. But at forty | cared only
for such clothes as kept me warm,
and at fifty only for such food IS
kept me strong. And SO steep was
the climb up to the top / had set my
heart upon that at sixty | cared little
fer the opinions Of people, if only |
might reach the top. And when |
do reach it | shall not care whether
the world has record Of 1t Or not.
That record is in safety above -
We laugh at she ambitious young
Englishnan. But will you kindly
| let me say plainly. without meaning
to be crioical in any sense, that most
Of Us DO as he did. And will you
listen softly, while l say this: Many
of US when we find we can't reach
the top with our ioads, let the top
90, and pitch our tents il the plain,
and settle down with our small plans
and accessories. The plain seems to
be quite full of tents.
The plan of the Swiss guides IS the
plan for the life climb. 1t is the
plan, and the only one for US to fol
low in the world-winnjng climb
That was Jesus plan. He left be-
hind and threw away everything
that hindered, and at the last threw
awav life itself, that, so the world
might find life. We must folio"
Hin.-S. D. Gordon.
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I,,nnre blood runs you down
l,oe won an easy victim for organic