The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-03-02
HAVING EYES WE SEE NOT.

Most of US pride ourselves upon our
powers of observation and our capacity for
discovering at once anything unusual that
may come our way, just as though the lat
ter performance merited any distinction
whatever. 1t is easy enough to see for
ourselves the things that are plain to every
one else and surely no credit is due anyone
in particular for such a simple act. We
cannot very we'll help seeing those things
that come directly under our gaze and
which lie on the surface of life. We may
think we use our eyes perhaps, but does it
ever occur to US that we do not really use
them to the best advantage? Are we sat-
isfied simply with having eyes and getting
only such use out of them as comes most
naturally and easily to US? Is it not true
that We often do not take the trouble to
look below the surface and thereby lose
perhaps golden opportunity? There is
so much that We can do in this world to
ease human suffering and yet most of US
stand idly by and wait until the opportunity
for doing so thrusts itself upon US. For
example, il we read of some dreadful
catastrophe which has caused ruin and
devastation we are quick to respond to the
call for help and yet we pass by day after
day many cases Of equal urgency but of
less public character. We do not use our
eyes because we dread the trouble and in
convenience it may cause US and thus
through purely selfish motive we lose the
chance to do something really worth while.
The best opportunities, as we all know, for
aiding others are not Haunted before our
eyes. 1t is not intended that we should
interest ourselves in another PERSONS af-
fairs simply through curiosity or from any
other idle feeling but at the same time, we
are not able to show our practical sympa-
thy very often becaue we have not used
our eyes to the best advantage. There is
wide difference between vulgar curiosity
and friendly interest and this difference is
apparent at once to the fair minded. INTEL
ligent person.
In addition to alternating distress there
are many other ways by which We can use
our eyes and make good our right to their
possession. 10 the every day affairs of life
there are countless opportunities that
crowd upon US day after day and of which
we scarcely ever avail ourselves. 1t may
be that We never think of them as oppor-
tunltles, If indeed, we regard them at all,
but nevertheless the fact remains that in
the course Of days work if we only use
our eyes in kindly and wise way we shall
really discover for ourselves many little
ways Of reaching PERSONS heart and
leaving there bit of comfort. 1t is nee
essary, Of course, that we should lose sight
Of ourselves and our individual interests
for time at least il we hope to enter into
another's life in beneficial way.
Planning for others, perhaps, may not
appeal to Us as a means of happiness to
ourselves; yet it brings into life very often
just the needed interest that we so often
lack. This particular manner of evidenc-
ing our Interest in others, however, is
easily abused and it is only when We are
able to dssociate our individual inclina-
tons from the wishes OF those whose in
tefests we have deeply at heart that we are
able to succeed. It we keep someone else's
tastes and feelings in our minds, for exam
pie, there are many little things of interest
to them that come into our own lives that
we can easily transfer to them and in this
way do great deal of good without in the /