The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-01-28
FORTTTUDE.

TOh114 CDE.
We are not sure that Robert Louis
Stevenson's greatest gift to humanity con-
sisted in the books he wrote. However
fine these things are, we think the life he
lived is perhaps a greater inspiration; a
more strengthening and uplifting influence.
With rare courage and patience he met
and mentally acknowledgement after
regiment of pain and suffering and the allies
of encouragement. Through it all, he
persisted in his efforts to make his talents
of use to others.
A year before his death he wrote "For
fourteen years have not had a days real
health: | have Weakened sick and gone to
bed weary; and have done my work un-
flinchingly. | have written in bed and
written out of it, written in hemorrhage,
written in sickness, written torn by cough
ing, written when my head swan from
Weakness"
This admirable fortitude was born of an
indomitable spirit, which was not to be
shaken bv even the wintriest rigors of
racking disease.
Along with it he had fine contempt for
any one who would hold back from life
because of death, saying it was as weak to
do so Gas to hold back the hand from the
rose because of the thorn.'
In his As Triplex" he asks US to no.
tice that though death is all about US and
is usually spoken of as fearful thing, yet
the fact that we 60 on living with scarcely
a thought of death under ordinary circum-
stances shows how little we regard it. We
do not love life, but living. "To be deeply
interested in accidents of our existence, to
enjoy keenly the mixed texture of human
experience, rather leads man to disre-
gard precautions, and risk his neck against
a straw. For surely the love of living is
stronger in an Alpine climber roping over
a peril, or hunter riding merrily at stiff
fence than in those constantly afraid to
move out of the most careful and hundrum
existence"
In the large plans which Stevenson was
continually laying out and commencing he
showed magnificent disregard of the fate
that was always hanging over him, and
this third characteristic of his life which
We have suggested ought to be initiated by
all OF US, finds verbal expression thus
''Whether we look justly for years Of
health and vigor, or are about to mount
into a bath chair, as a step towards the
hearse-a man should stop his ears against
paralying terror, and run the race that is
set before him with single mind. By all
means begin your folio; even if the doctor
does not give you a year, even if he hesi-
tates about month, make one brave push
and see what can be accomplished in a
week. 1t is not only in finished undertake
ings that we ought to honor useful labor"
And what could be more encouraging to
every one who is struggling to make good
against odds that seem at times too heavy,
than this trumpet blast of fate-defying
courage: "All who have meant good work
with their whole hearts, have done good
work, although they may die before they
have the time to sign it. Every heart tina,
has beat strong and cheerfully has left a
hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and
bettered the tradition of mankind. And
even il death catches people like an open
pitfall, and in mid career, laying out vast
projects, and planning monstrous founda-
tons, flushed with hope, and their mouths
full of boastful language, they should be at
once tripped up and silenced; is there not
something brave and spirited in such a
termination? And does not life 90 down
with a better grace, foaming in full body
over precipice, than miserably struggling
to an end in sandy detas?"
OF course, there is but one sane or wise
answer to that last question. Yet, moi
many of US are wise or sane enough tc
make that answer with our portion of days
and energy.
We are afraid, for some reason or other
We need to know and think more abou,
the splendid struggle made by the brilliant
Scottish novelist and writer, Robert Louis
Stevenson.
Brother Scanland 10 Correct.