The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-05-11
APART FROM THE CROWD.

age or ours tnere IS Weu.ueuueu teHu
ency, not of course among thinkers them
selves, but among many of the rank and
file, to overlook or underrate the social
and individual value of serious thought or
sober reflection. From the habit of con-
trasting theory and practice they some
times talk and act as though the two
were set in fixed opposition. The word
"theory" Immediately suggests to them
castle in the air-a something too utterly
childish or fanciful for the level-headed
man OF affairs. Evidently such people
forget that there are sensible and we'll
founded, as we'll as false and ridiculous,
theories, and furthermore, malpractice itself
is generally based on theory. We don't
mean to say that all thinkers or theorists are
great men, but certainly all great men have
been thinkers, theorists, "dreamers," if
you will; and it is precisely the carrying
out of their "dreams" and theories that
made them great. Were it not for the
"dreamers" and theorists, we of the present
would be standing where the race stood
thousands of years ago. 1t was not the
busy man of affairs, but the "dreamer"
working in his silent cabinet, that taught
us how to use electricity and to dominate
the other natural forces which have revo-
lutionized the modern world. All the use
full arts, in fact, are based on the findings
of these 'dreamers and theorists. When
we speak of the French Revolution the first
names that occur to most OF. US are those
of Robespierre, Danton, Marat, etc., but
we lose sight of the fact that its real authors
were Voltaire, Rousseau and the other rad
zeal philosophers of the eighteenth century.
In reality it is the thinkers and theorists
and +" dreamers" who rule fine world. They
are the power behind the throne. They it
is who construct and set in motion the ma
chinery that puts forth the good and evil
things of life. The brethren of Joseph and
Jacob had nothing but contempt for the
"dreamer of Dreams" as they styled him,
but after-events proved that the dreamer"
was the most practical and level-headed of
all his fathers sons.
To what, it may be asked, does all this
lead? The intent is to remind US that
serious thought or reflection is at the bot
tom of all wholesome and profitable action,
both social and individual. Without it
there can be neither social progress nor
individual betterment. In the days when
men lived more slowly and deliberately
they had more time and perhaps more
favorable environment for reflection. In
this age of hustle and noise and excitement
many haven't the time, or at least won't
take the time, for it-and thereby prove
themselves their own worst enemies, for
those who neglect frequent and serious
self-examination will never amount to
much, either for themselves or the world
at large. In the words of the old prophet
Of Israel: with desolation is the earth
made desolate because there is none that
thinketh in his heart" To know and play
our part in the great drama of human life
we must first learn to know ourselves-our
capabilities and our limitations, our weak
and our strong points, the mainsprings Of
our action and the dangers that beset our
path-and certainly this knowledge cannot
be acquired in the midst of "the madden
ing crowd" Persons of religious bent,
realizing that "the Lord is not in the whirl-
Wind and counting on the divine promise,
will lead her into the wilderness and
there speak to her SOUL" make it practice
to withdraw at stated times from the dailv
routine of human activities and give them
selves up to self-introspection. tits verify
a holy and wholesome practice, good not
only for religious people, but likewise for
all who take life and its duties seriously
We may not all have the same amount of
time to devote to it, or even the same high
motives, but without doubt we would all
find ourselves morally and socially bettered
by getting apart from the crowd now and
then to take an inventory of our moral
stock. 1t is at such times that the greatest
and best thoughts come to US. II there
were more reflection and determination
in the world to enable US to know ourselves
as we really are, there would be far less
crime and fewer misfits in the social fabric.
Nothing can be of greater moment for us
than to raise our thoughts from time to
time above the gross and sordid, the ma
terial and the mercenary, to make us realize
that we have a rational and spiritual, as
well as an animal, nature. As the Emperor
Marcus Aurelius says in his 'Meditations )"