Evening star., 1924-08-29

only youth with Scanty and home
made toys, but maturity in humble
surroundings may get about as much
satisfaction out of life as those with
surroundings made up of every lux
ury. If this, which I believe to be
profoundly true, were more fully
realized. it would remove much dis
content on the one hand and remedy
considerable vanity and arrogance
on the other. There is a very great
deal more Of equality in America
than is yet appreciated. Some day
this will be generally understood and
admitted.
Happiness Enough for All.
But IL our satisfactions do not
come from great possessions. we may
well inquire what are their source.
To my mind they come from the simp-
ler things of life, from the exercise
of the homely virtues that are within
the reach of all. 1t cannot be that we
live in a world where we must, for
the most part. with no fault of our
own, be doomed to failure and dis
appointment. That would be the case
if We all must have great possessions
to gain happiness and success. 1t must
be that there is plenty of satisfaction
and happiness to go around, If we
will but put ourselves in an attitude
to accept them.
"One of the most elemental virtues,
which is not only within reach of
all. but must be prActiced by all, is
industry 1t is very difficult to imagine
any personal satisfaction of which
this does not form a part. In the de-
velopment of our industrial life we
have had to make a large effort to
soften and avoid grueling and me-
no nil fnh fnr in p1n
confinement. But because we have
wished to prevent over-exertion and
prolonged strain it must not be in
ferred that work is undesirable or
harmful. There can be no human de-
velopment without it. Education i'm
plies a long and intensive application
by every individual who acquires it's
benefits. The whole fabric of our
civilization is absolutely dependent
upon it. Without it there is only dis
integration and decay. Instead of be-
ing a curse, we can rather say that
work is the prime source Of all our
blessings. On a little church high on
Vermont hillside l saw this inscrip-
ton: NO man who lives a life of
ease leaves a name worth remember
ing" Industry pays because it is
right.
Work Based on Thrift.
But work is activity for an end
1t always seeks to accomplish some
thing. The main object with which
we usually associate it is that Of
material progress. This means ac-
emulation. The foundation on
which this rests is the virtue Of
thrift. If there be any general ad-
vance, any increment as a result of
industry, it is because the people as
a whole produce more than they use,
because they save. 1t is only by the
practice Of this virtue that we can
build railroads. establish industries.
support commerce, enlarge agricul
ture, endow colleges, and provide
places for religious worship. With
out thrift these works will not arise.
Another virtue on which we must
place a great deal of emphasis is
loyalty. We are all placed in posi-
tionS Of more or less responsibility.
If we think only of ourselves. we
shall reap nothing but failure. When
we have once made choice, there
must be loyalty to that choice. This
is one foundation of the family re-
lationship. When we have entered
into employment, or Unidentified our
selves with party, or accepted an
office. or received the benefits of cit
izenship, these obligations must be
discharged with loyalty. After we
have made our choice we must abide
by it. Honesty is loyalty to truth.
Bexpeaks Faith in Hearers.
ITO these must be added faith. 1t
is faith that lifts us above ourselves
and gives us a strength that is not
our own. We need faith in ourselves
to exercise the power of our own
ability and our own character. We
need faith in others to secure their
more complete reaction to our own
efforts. Without it we could not
make use of banking system or is
sue bonds and notes which are evil
dences of Indebtedness, extend any
credit or make any adequate provi
sion for the future. Not to have faith
in our fellow men is not to have faith
in ourselves. 1t is to deny our mu-
tual dependence upon each other and
upon a Divine power. We live in an
ordered universe ruled by law and by