The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-01-27
GIVING WAY TO OUR FEARS.

Those who give way easily to their ap-
preheusions are greatly to be pitied as we'll
as censured. Naturally it must seem to
those whose temperaments are hopeful and
trusting that such persons have little ex-
cuso for their fears and are fit objects of
contempt but the sufferings Of such mis-
guided beings, while purely imaginary, are
often hard to endure. In way they are
to be blamed for no one has the right to
deliberately increase his physical or men
tai discomfort and the morbid fears to which
some persons surrender themselves are too
often entirely unnecessary. At the same,
time, however, human nature differs IN
many essential respects and its Infinite
variety' is too comprehensive to admit OF
more than an imperfect understanding.
So while it is quite true that there are men
and women who occasionally flake" their
fears, as it were, in the hope probably of
enlisting sympathy, there are numerous
others who because Of their natural incll-
nations are not able to wholly escape from
the gloomy influences to which they are
subject That they make the attempt to do
the spur of confidence and they surrender
too easily to what they consider the inevita-
ble 1t is bad enough when such fears
merely affect mans more personal and
private interests, but it is far worse when
they extend to every phase of life and
threaten his career as we'll.
Too often we exaggerate our fears out of
all proportion to the issue in hand. We
find ourselves, perhaps, suddenly confront
ed by an obstacle which for the time being
seems wholly insurmountable; instead Of
approaching it closely and in such man
ner as to familiarize ourselves with its de-
tails we are likely to view it from afar with
ever increasing alarm; we attach to it an
Importance which it probably does not pos
sess and often develop it into herculean
proportions simply because we have not
dared to examine it as carefully as condi-
tons permitted. From out of our fears we
rear unscalable walls when perhaps gar
den hedge is the only barrier to our sue
cess. The mountains of difficulties that
seem to bar US from further effort are only
the foothills of promise. We do not realize
these truths, of course, else, our fears
would soon be dispelled and we never shall
realize them until we wear the badge of
self confidence and, are willing to trust
somewhat to our ability to reason things
out for themselves. 1t is because we fail
to do this that we are sometimes wholly at
the mercy Of the influence of the moment,
and when that influence is an unworthy
one we suffer accordingly. Often the ex-
ercise Of only ordinary common sense, to
say nothing of more logical ability, is
sufficient to make US see the futility, if not
the absurdity, of our worst fears, because
as rule, probably nine tenths of our
misgvings are totally unfounded, notwith-
standing the damage they work even in
Imagination. We believe, perhaps, that
some evil threatens US because the sailing
may not be smooth, or the work in hand is
not progressing in just the way We wish,
Or We fall short Of the mark we set for our
selves, or for a thousand other reasons
We give way to our fears and they darken
otherwise sunny skies and make anticipa
ton anything but the pleasant, joyous feel
ing it should be. Perhaps, in moment oil
saneness we. permit ourselves the blessing
Of using our reasoning powers and forth.
with the dreadful thing which seemed tc
threaten dissipates into thin air and We
find nothing to harrass or distress is a.
closer range. He "Faced the specters o
mind and laid ther,' wrote Tennyson of {
friend. TO rise superior to our unwhoIe
some fears We, too, must face the specter
Of our minds, no matter in what terrifying
form they may present themselves, becaus,
they are nor understand how unnecessary
they are to our existence. Once we NEE
them face to face we find it impossible ever
to lay hands upon them. There ia nothing
to them, they slip through our fingers AM
recede as we advance upon them. The,
are "specters' indeed, hideous in shap
perhaps, and threatening in aspect bu
"specters" nevertheless and unfit inhabi
tants Of the minds which God intended u
to make better use Of. There are 50 man,
problems in life which need keen intellec
and sound judgment to solve and yet W
waste these faculties in idle and often in
furious pursuits. 1t is easy to accuston
ourselves to look for trouble at almos
every stage of life. If we happen to hav
a streak Of bad luck, as it were, we groy
Respondent and imagine ourselves subjec
to some special evil influence. Such fore
bodings, however, are merely the vagarie
of disordered mind and the only way b.
which to arrive at our normal condition
to cultivate that spirit Of opticism whic
discourages all gloomy thoughts and radi
ates hope and anticipation. Such spiri
may not be easily attained; indeed, it i
sometimes considered impossible of bein
acquired by those to whom it is not nat
ural gift, but to the brave. earnest seeke
after a share of hfe's brightness it is not
futile task.
In our fight for Mr.. Barrett and Prohibi
ton we have met with an Overwhelming
defeat, but We have no regret for our &C
ton as the cause was iuSt-its nrincinla