The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-03-31

to resist our impulses. And that is
too much the teaching of the philoso-
pliers. 1t is, certainly, a great thing
to achieve; but the element does more
than that The proper mastery OF
ourselves not only enables US to re-
sist the propensity to evil action, but
also invigorates US for proper activity
just as the control of horse i'm
plies not only holding him by bit and
bride, but also guiding his course,
and urging him with whip or spur
when he is unwilling to advance.
Everybody knows that all human
beings are impelied by bodily and
spiritual appetites, by selfshness, and
by ambitions, are prone to crafty
their desires, and are averse to activ-
ity except in obedience to their
prompting. At the same time, we are
endowed with reason; a sense of du-
ty and will, which should enable US to
regulate our propensities, and proper
ly direct our activities. If we do not
manage our inclnations, they will
manage US. Horace says we'll to his
young friend Lollius, Govern your
disposition, which, unless it o5eys,
rule" s"-'animum rege; qui, nisl
paret, imperat." 1t is commonly
thought that, while we must restrain
ourselves from doing bad things, and
compel ourselves to do very good ones
we are warranted in following our
inclinations in less important matters.
That is mistake. The small things
constitutes much the greater part OF
our lives In order to exercise self
control on serious occasions, we must
have acquired the capacity to manage
ourselves; and this is to be effected
by constant practice, in regard to lit
tie things as we'll as in important
ones. In other words, we must ac-
quire the habit of self-management.
/ Everybody knows the power of habit
who knows anything about liquor
drinking, swearing, gambling, idling,
gossiping, or even .candy-eating.
No man was ever really great who
did not practice self-restraint and
self-constraint. Courage, energy, IN
tellect, even good intentions, have
failed to effect substantial result
wherever either element has been
lacking. Alexander of Macedon, Ma
poleon Bonaparte and Kaiser Will
helm of Germany possessed fine intel
lects and great energy, and each at
one time ruled an empire; yet the first
died of drunken de5auch, and his
empire went to pieces; the second lost
his empire, and died a prisoner; the
third finally ran away from his cne-
mics. and his own people, and Is said
to be now taking exercise in chopping
wood in Holland. Not one of them
ever learned to control himself, and
keep within bounds. On the other
hand, we have King Louis XVI of
France, King Frederick William III
of Prussia and Francis Joseph, en-
peror of Austria Hungary, all of
; whom were men of fair Intelligence,
and among the few decent monarchs
of history; yet the first named idled,
and pottered. and fumbled, lost both
mis- crown and his head, and left mis-
people to the horrors of bloody revo- I
luton: the second failed 20 support
the patriotic effort of his beautiful,
lovable, heroic wife, Queen Louisa,
and allowed his people, for nearly
seven years, to be ground under the
heel of the tyrant Bonaparte; and the
third was so piddling and plant as to
be, partly failure, when left alone,
and partly the tool Of his own minis
try. and of the domineering German
kaiser. And his empire has gone to
pieces. These three men were fiabby,
wanting in self-coercion.
suspect that the prevalent lack of
self-control is, at least partly, the re-
suit of misconception of mans posi-
ton and mission in this life. The
Greek saying, commonly attributed to
Pythagoras, seems to me, as l trans
late it, to embody3 the fundamental
doctrine, which we should adopt, and
live by, that the Divine Ruler assigns
to every human being post which ne
must not desert or neglect. This earth
is neither prison nor playground.
/ We are not slaves, nor are we at liber-
ty to do as we please. Man is like
soldier on guard Cen tint phroura),
and given capacities, and charged
with duties. One man has one sphere