The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-24
MAN is Master of His Own DESTINY
By MAURICE MAFTERLINcK.

It might almost be said that thcre
happens to men only that they desire.
1t is true that on certain external
events our influence is OF tho fecblest,
but wc have all-powerful action on
that which these events shall become
In ourseives-in other words. on their
( spiritual part on what is radiant, un.
dying within them
There are thousands of mon within
whom this spiritual part, that is cray-
Ing for birth in every misfortune. or
love- or chance meeting has known
! DOT one moment of life--these men
pass away like straw on the stream.
! And others there are within whom
this immortal part absorbs all: those
are like islands that have sprung up
IN the ocean: for they have found i'm
movable anchorage. whence they issue
I commands that their destiny must
needs obey. Tho life of most mon will
be saddencd or Heightened by the
things that may chance to befaIl them
When you love. 1t is not your love that
forms part of your destiny. but the
knowledge of self that you will have
found deep down in your love-this II
Iis that VIII help to fashion your life
II you have been deceived, IL ia not
1.-THE deception that matters. but the
forgiveness whereto II gave birth in
Eyour soul. and the loftiness. wisdom,
L
! these shall your life he steered to des-
| finys haven or brightness and peace;
by these shall your eyes see more than
II all men had even been faithful
But H. by this act of deceit, there
fhn"e come not moro simpleness. loftier
faith. wider range to your love. then
have you been deceived in vain. and
may truly say nothing has happened
| Always remember that nothing be-
falls US that Ia not of the nature OF
! ourselves. There comes no adventure
but wears to our soul the shape of our
everyday thoughts. and deeds OF
heroiHm are but offered to those who
Tor many Ions years have been heroes
In obscurity and silence. And whether
you climb up the mountain or go down
the hill to the valley, whether you
Journey to the end of the world or
merely walk round your house. none
but yourself shall you meet on tho
| highway OF fate. If Judas goes forth
tonight, 1t is toward Judas his steps
| will tend. nor Will chance for betrayal
be lacking: but let Socrates open his
door. he shall ind Socrates asleep on
the threshold before him. and there
will be occasion for wisdom,
| Our adventures hover around us like
Ibees round the hive when preparing to
swarm. They wait till the mother
idea has at last como forth from our
teoul, and no sooner has she appeared
Ian they all come rushing toward
ther.
| Be false. and falsehoods Will hasten
10 you; love. and adventures will flock
10 you. throbbing with love They
lseem TO be all on the watch for the
leignal We hoist from within: and II
the soul grow wiser toward evening
the sorrow will grow wiser. too. that
1.-The soul has fashioned for itself In the
morning
| No great inner event hefalis those
| who summon II not, and yet is there
germ of great inner event In the
smallest occurrence OF life. But events
such as these are apportioned by Jus
tice, and to each man is given Of the
epoil in accord with his merits. We
become that which We discover in the
sorrows and joys that befaIl US. and
Sthe least expected caprices OF fate
ieoon mould themselves on our
Thoughts.
! It is our past that destiny nnds all
ther weapons. her vestments, her jewels.
Were the only son of Thcrsites and
IHocrates 10 die the same day. Socrates's
fgrief would In no way resemble the
tgrief OF Thersites. Misfortune or hap
tpiness. II seems. must chastened
terc II Knock at the door OF the sage;
tbut only by STOPPING low can II enter
|the commonplace soul.
A sorrow your soul has changed