Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-09-29
TIMELY REINFoRcEMENTS
Human Life Would be Dull Without
Associates,


Human Life Would be Dull Without
Associates.
Life was never meant to be a game
it is interesting to live is that 1t is
not just lone thing after another" as
the dreary libel has it, but constant
meeting with the unexpected at the
frequently interesting crossroads. In
"Pilgrams Progress" the reader re-
members how others continually join
ed the pathway of the traveller. COM
ing from all directions, and half the
charm of that great story which has
carried it's message into every land Is
in these dramatic Interruptions, The
reader wonders who will be next to
climb over the orchard wall or come
painting through dust cloud from a
by-way to join the Pilgram's itinerary
for little while and then the sight
Of lions in the path, or grinning
giants, become faint-hearted and de-
sert.
Life is like that. We are affected
by all whom we meet, either for a
Strengthening contact or a weakening
subtraction. What an inspiration 1t Is
to have so much as an hQur-or even
ten minutes-with true greatness in
man or woman! We feel their power
radiate-we succumb to the magic
that we cannet analyze, the personal
ity that we feel without being able to
make definite appraisal Of its con-
stituent parts, You may sell old
furniture from an auction block, but
the atmosphere Of the dismantled
house is not to be conveyed to a new
owner at any price. Even so, you may
describe the attributes Of human be-
ing, but you cannot tell me what the
sum total of him is like, beyond in
dicating the impression he has made
upon you.
We are about to give UP. perhaps,
and lo our attention Is arrested by
some challenging episode or viata-
some promise of a fresh voyage Of
discovery-that makes us think 1t
worth while to remain on earth a lit
tie longer to ''see this thing out" In
these dellrious times of piping war,
indeed, we seem to have inherited a
future somewhere adumbrated by
H. G. Wells, with his cosmic imagi-
nation, or by Kipling, not to mention
our old friend Verne. whom we have
always with us in some fresh sub
sanitation Of his prophecies. Indeed,
this seems to be the future, suddenly
come upon us not the present. The
centuries ahead are already here. And
they act as a spur and a stimulus to
the pessimistic mentality which was
about to put it down that there is
nothing new under the sun,
In cur simplest lives. the quietest
lightning flashes Of enliyening glory.
No career is SO dull and uniform as
not to hold them. A man who drives
a station hack, q messenger boy who
trudges with a telegram, the conduct
or Of a freight train, the motorman,
he who operates an elevator, the
sweeper of a crossing-any one Of
these may hold In his hands the keys
Of the destiny of others, and in min
iature and at a distance follow the
world.conuuering, star-yearning track
Of a Caesar Who says that romance
is denied the pale youth who packs
moist sand around mold in found
ry, or rubs pestle in mortar COM
pounding a prescription behind the
ground-glass of a pharmastic? Either
might have in his very grasp a life
as precious as that of Sir Edward
Coke, or Johannes Brahms, or Ans
elm, or Michael Faraday.
The timely reinforcements do not
always gallop in noisy numbers over
a hill with cheers and Haunting PEN
mons. They may steal in very quiet
ly, as wide river runs, and take pos
session. a letter at the very minute
it is wanted may help immensely
even if there is no money in it, no
catering to the appetite of vanity, no
promise of advantage in some higher
station. 1t is the sheer friendliness
that counts most of all. We cannot
always know when we have helped
over the rough places those who but
for US, might have fallen by the way.
We can afford to let the expression
of theif gratitude wuit-but we must
not delay the minlstrations and the
service that shall earn this thankful
ness.-Philadelphia Ledger.