Norwich bulletin., 1910-02-12
THE MAN WHO TALKS

Abraham Lincoln has been called
the Great Commoner," and to be that
he had to be very uncommon man.
He was easily the greatest man of his
generation. but he did not know it,
neither did the men of his times lie
was literally hated as he is now the
best loved of men. He never felt that
he was great, he never realized his
great value to- the nation In per
sonal appearance he was unattractive
lin nobleness of character and pur-
pose he was a king. He cherished the
highest principles and hOnored them
his mercy extended to the least and
the feeblest of Gods creatures. He
protested nothing sectarian, but al
ways seemed to feel that he lived in
the very presence of God He loved a
man and pitied a renegade. He was
quick to mercy and slow to wrath-a
man who loved all his fellow men,
A popular song runs: I'VE Shall
Know Each Other Better Over There"
but there is nothing to hinder us from
knowing each other better right here
If we sincerely devote ourselves to that
end. If we are no franker over there
than here=if we use language to con-
ceal thought instead of to express it,
have a doubt whether we shall know
each other better anywhere. We en-
brace sentiments which strike a re-
sponsive chord in the heart as if they
were life preseryers, when there is
nothing in them to base taper1ng
hope upon. If we do not know our
selves better over there we shall make
a mess of it. and perhaps knowing our
selves better is the true way OF know
ing each other better. We need not
wait-we can begin the work right
here.
Do you know there is one way to
know what people are saying about
you without going out to make inquiry,
and there is nothing mysterious about
it. You haven't got to be an adept
just ordinary observation will deter
mine this for you. When you are out
among folks you will always meet gar
rulous persons who love to gossip and
you notice what they say about others
who are not there, and then you will
know just about what is said about you
when you are not present. 1t doesn't
hurt you and it may do them good
Many gQssipers might die if we were
not themes for small talk-for blame.
conjecture and, perhaps, ridicule. We
serve quite a number of purposes in
this world and we keep tongues busy
as well as machines a-running.
Trouble is poor bedfeIIow.
ThoughtIess people take trouble to bed
with them, not realizing that he drives
sweet sleep away Everybody sees
more or less of trouble, and those who
know how to deal with it are fortu-
nate. Trouble is one of the few things
which should be calmly faced and as
soon as possible be forgotten. There
is no use Of letting trouble sit upon
your heart, for he will make it ache if
you do. 1t should be met like an in
frequent visitor and should never find
anything which approaches a welcome.
No thought should be wasted on trou-
BILE. Get behind me. Satan" is a good
salutation for it. To be closeted with
trouble means a hot time; and it can
make you feel that life isn't worth
living in a very short time. When
trouble knocks at your door tell him
you're not at home and stick to it.
To do as one pIeases is to displease
many others. Those who think they
are doing as they like when pleasing
else are the preferred article.
There doesn't seem to be any such
thing as absolute independence. for We
were built to find all our pleasures
through interdependence. We are all
contributors to the pleasure of others.
Shakespeare was driving at that when
he said 'A1l the worlds a stage, and
the men and women only actors.''
Whether life is a comedy or a tragedy
depends upon how you take it. Some
think it is Industrial slavery, and it is
if they only know how to work and do
not know how to play. If you think
it is a game or something else do not
take it too seriously, for he who takes
life as a matter of course has trouble
enough.