The Bossier banner., 1915-08-12
THINKING ONLY OF OURSELVES.

That selfshness often warps whatperhaps
would otherwise be a noble nature cannot
be questioned. No man can make much
headway uuess he is able to Danish from
his mind all thought of self. Of course we
are all obliged to look out for ouselves and
to make ourselves as comfortable as possi-
bic in this world, in material way at any
rate, but if would only stop there and not
foster the spirit of greed which is upper
most in human nature, as rule, the world
would be far better place in which to live.
The debt we owe to others if regarded care
fully and discharged faithfully is very
good means of preserving our unselfish-
ness. There are many natures, however,
that seem to thrive, from worldly point OF
view at least, upon what they receive from
others without giving out anything in turn.
They seem to think that they are the only
ones in all this world who need to flourish
they forget the necessities of others in the
desire to provide for themselves, and hav-
ing satisfied their demands of the moment
they are not content but look for still other
means of advancing their interests. They
take all and give nothing; they prosper on
the good offices of others yet withhold such
help as they in turn can render; their cause
must prevail even at the expense of others.
We who call ourselves Christian men and
women sometimes do not care to look deeply
into the controlling motive of our lives.
We may know what it is and even feel
somewhat ashamed of its presence but so
long as we can keep the knowledge from
others we make no determined effort to
crush it out of existence. We do not like
to take the trouble of giving any part of
ourselves to others; We do not like to be
put to any Inconvenience for the benefit of
those about US; we want everything good
for ourselves and care little about the for
tunes of those whose paths chance to crosse
ours. We seek, perhaps, to hide our real
feelings just for the sake of making good
appearance, but even then the thought that
prompts that small concession to others is
selfish and narrow. If we continue to live
in such conditions, however, it will not be
long before we shall find that we are studi-
ously avoided by those in whom we affect
an interest. The essence of our natures,
that which sweetens life and makes so many
apparently unimportant details worthwhile,
dies within US, and we become cold and des-
olate and incapable Of giving our warmth
and happiness even were we SO willed. We
are quick enough to criticise others for not
giving US the aid and encouragement that
we stand in need of at times, yet when it
comes to our turn to render assistance we
do not see things in just the same light.
There are so many ways by which we
can be of use to others, so many little
things that I've can do, unimportant in them
selves perhaps, but which taken together
make up large part of life and WELD a
power for good of unlimited possibility.
Those who succeed in life through selfish
ness, and the pity of it is that many such
have succeed, pay large price for their
success. They lose the happiness which
an untroubled conscience and unselfih heart
always brings, and while they may profess
to despise such simple comfort and declare,
on the other hand, that their selfish tri-
umphs bring a happines of their own, time
and later developments are almost sure to
tell different story. We cannot measure
our achievements except by our labors and
if we cannot point to the former with pride
they lose their good effect and turn te
ashes. What is success if we do not
possess the ability to enjoy it? What dc
our triumphs count for if we have lost the
good opinion Of others? What does pros.
perity amount to if an uneasy conscience
withholds the joy of possession? The mar
who lieves as best he can, making a career
for himself without sacrificing the interests
of others to his own greed, has learned
secret which many have labored in vain tt
possess because they were not willing t.
take into consideration the rights and priv
ileges of others. The surrender of cherish
ed hopes is a hard experience yet often
necessary one in order to convince US o
our relative unimportance to life in genera
no matter how necessary we may be in Ou
own little affairs. 1t is entirely human, o
course, for each of US to regard our per
sonal concerns as highly important both il
their bearings upon our immediate live
and upon the lives of those whose path
cross ours, yet experiences teaches US tn
same lesson many times that we are neces
sary to life only so far as our influence
good and wise. We cannot expect to exer
such an influence unless our lives are sim
pie and straightford in their bearing, un
warped by unworthy characteristics an
untrammeled by narrow thoughts. Their
may be men who do not seem to care abou
exerting an Influence for good, they ar
too deeply concerned in pandering to thei
greed to find time to regard the highe
phases of existence, but whatever thei
success they pay heavy price for it in th
later realization that it has come to ther
mainly through selfish activities.
In presenting the graduates Of the Stat
University with their diplomas, says new
item, Gov. Hall impressed upon them til
debt OF gratitude they owe the State fc
the education provided them." We con
urafplafn Gov Hall IN nallinr n.,hl;o a.