The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-08-26
The Ship Of Life

Have you ever thought about the way of
ship far out in the midst of the ocean? There is
nothing but the light blue sky, the dark green
water. Only one wind is blowing. But there are
two ships sailing ON the surface. One ship is sail
ing up the stream toward the East, toward the
warm rays of the rising sun, toward the port, to
place of security and refuge. The other ship is
sailing in the opposite direction down the stream
toward the West, toward the cold rays of the set
ting sun, away from the port, to place of danger
and insecurity. Nevertheless, of these two ships
which are mpelled by the same wind one is travel
ing east, and one is travelling west.
Young men, it may be of benefit to you some
time in your careers, if you will concentrate for
only few minutes on the parable of these two
ships and the principle it teaches. The man who
has been thrown upon life's great sea- the man who
has been tossed about on the waves of billowing
fortune, and shipwrecked on the rocks of adversely
the man who has been failure, regards his fellow,
men, the men who are going in the opposite direc-
ton, sailing slowly carefully, and peacefully on the
calm ocean to success, to honor and respect with
envious, hateful eyes, with extreme feeling that
injustice has been done him.
But, he is content to forget that the self same
forces that ncite him to defeat and to failure spur
the other on to success and victory. The whole
course of the ship in the midst of the ocean de-
ponds upon the way the forces are employed; it
depends upon the of the rudder it does not de-
pend upon the wind. The difference in direction
depends upon the control of the rudder and the
consequent regulation of the sail. Our various am
billions, our desires, emotions and aspirations are
to us what the North, the South, the East and
West wind is to the ships. These forces NAV diff
fer in different days. No matter how it blows. by
proper management of the rudder, it can be steer
ed in any direction desired admit it is hard to
60 against the wind and sea captains endure and
suffer much before they reach port But as long
as they are able to control the ship, there is no
danger.
So it is with us. There exists certain force.
Ambition. which be made to move us in the
right direction. This human force of ambition
with Lincoln's conscience to guide it, saved Re-
public. The same force, with the conscience of
Benedict Arnold, tried to destroy nation
Imagine yourself ship, launched on the sea
under certain circumstances you have con-
troll of the ship. You are the captain. Do not
let the ship drift because of feeble wind Try TO
sail at least in the right direction It is law Of
nature that whatever drifts, always drifts down
stream, never up Then again, the wind NAV
blow gale and you may imagine that you cannot
control your emotions, your appettes Do not
give up. Take in sail and fight the storm instead
permitting yourself to go willingly to destruction
Throw out the anchor and stand firm. Let Charac
ter be your anchor. Character is foundation
Life must have a foundation much as any other
building something at bottom upon which the
rest is built Without Character, you cannot re-
ly upon yourself, neither can other people rey up
on you.
The way of human being in the midst Of
Life is like that of ship in the ocean. From now
on, determine that your journey thru Life shall ba
controlled by the rudder of conscience, by the an
Choir of Character, and learn from the ships tbat
have passed lesson that will be useful in vonr
own life. Exchange