The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-03-18
DOING THE VERY
BEST We CAN
Doing Ones Best Diligently
Is a Virtue
To Do Common Things Well is Indefinitely
Greater Than To Do What Men Cali
Great Deeds MednIy 10 Do Commoa
Things Well Should be Our Ambition.
". Y. Christian Adrocate.

We often hear man say: I am
doing the best / can" Few realize
the meaning of this declaration. Ii
l am doing the best l can, l am
abstaining from everything l ough,
not to do. When solicited or at
tempted to engage in transaction
or conversation whereby the tone OF
my own life would be lowered or
the reputation or homes of my neigh
bors would be injured, no matter
how great the financial gains or sell
fish pleasures involved, | steadfastly
refuse. To do less is not the best !
can dc.
Felix Adler said: Day by day,
there are trlumphs to be won over
the passion that stirs in our breasts;
over the rising anger that sears orr
lips; over the turpitudes that defile
our hearts; over the spirit of i'm
patience and mutiny that threatens
the authority of our reason. By
such triumphs we are raised above
our baser selves, and the FIRE which
consumes our grossar natures, like
the flaming chariot of Elijah. bears
us living into higher world"
No one is doing the best he can
who does not diligently strive to do
every common task we'll. Life is
made up, not of great deeds, but
common tasks. There was nothing
remarkable or spectacular in what.
we did yesterday. 1t was merely
series of commonplace acts and ex-
periences from morning to night.
Nothing happened worth recording.
So it was the day before, and the
day before that, ard 80 it will be
tomorrow. To do common things
we'll should be our ambition. Do
them in the right spirit. Do them
as in the service of humanity. Do
them because they are right. Do
them cheerfully, patiently, faithfully.
beautifully. To do common things
we'll is indefinitely greater than to
do what men call great deeds mean
ly.
Let the conversation at the break
fast be elevating. Exclude all un-
worthy topics and tempers. Then
go on with the daily round of house
keeping or teaching, or study, or
business, with serene spirit and
high noble aim. Those common
tasks which seem 50 monotonous and
prosy will be grand when they are
done in the right spirit The great
transactions may never come TO your
HdHu. IL IL SuOulu COuc. Tue Udlly
habit of doing little things with lofty
aim will serve you we'll in the
brilliant deed which may be worth
recording. But remember, we are
making history in the unhistoric
deed as we'll as in the thing which
shall be proclaimed from the house
top.
No one can do his best alone.
Especially in the hours OF disap-
pointment, defeat and affliction, we
need sympathy and counsel. Woe
to the man who does not live on
such terms with others that he can
have their sincere sympathy in the
trying hour. Keep in close touch,
heart-to- heart touch, with father,
mother, brother, sister. wife, chill
dren and neighbors. You can not
do your best without them. Above
all, keep in close touch with your
Heavenly Father. Never become
alienated. for one day, from Him in
your mind. When the hour is dark
est and the burden heaviest, you
will greatly need to feel that your
aching heart is throbbing close to
His great heart of love, and you can
say confidently: The Lord is my