Evening star., 1924-09-28
BUILDING STRAIGHT PATHS.

7 was said of Sir Walter Scott that
i he enjoyed more in "a hours than
most men do in a week. Possi-
i bly, the secret of it was that he
lived his life very largely for the
benefit of others. After all, there is
sciousness that what we are and do
bears directly and helpfully upon the
lives of those about us.
To the most casual student of life
one thing is clearly evident, namely,
that we are put here to do two
things-first, to live our life by
standards that will result in our
highest and truest development, and,
second. to relate that development to
the highest and noblest interests of
those whose lives come within the
radius of our influence. lf-deVelop-
ment that is purely selfish, that
means only self f-satisfaction, leads
ultimately to disappointment and
failure. Self lf-development that means
the raising of the standard, the en-
riching and bettering of those less
fortunate weaker than ourselves,
lends a zest and enthusiasm to life
that results in dividends of .oy and
satisfaction and crowns it length
with a peace that is altoge : in
comparable.
Straight Paths for Others.
One of the best directions | know
of for what might be called consistent
or balanced living is found in the old
Book of Hebrews at the twelfth
chapter and thirteenth verse:
Make straight the paths for your
feet, lest that which is lame be
turned out of the way: but let it
rather be healed"
This clearly implies that self-de-
toned by the relation it bears to the
difficulties and problems of others.
To build straight paths for ones feet
without reference to what they may
mean to others is an unsatisfactory
and profitless business. 1t hardly
seems possible that any one would
regard anything that has come in the
way of a blessing as d purely per-
sonal possession. Nor does it seem
reasonable that, having accom-
plished through persevering service a
satisfactory way of living, they
should regard it as exclusively their
own.
Think of what the world owes to
the men and women who have shared
with it their great gifts. What a
contrast between such a life as that
of Henri Amiel, gifted, brilliant
scholar that he was. and Victor Hugo.
,
storing up knowledge for self-con-
sumption and self f-gratification. shar-
Ing it grudgingly in his fragmentary
Journal; the second giving all that
he had of rich, ina aginative and tow
fring genius in his prolific and glow
ing writings. Amiels life was like
the fig tree that Christ beheld-prom
ising but unfruitful. Hugo's life bore
bountiful harvestS that will continue
to enrich mankind so long as men
think and read. The rarest treasures
of art, literature and philosophy have
come to us from the generous hands
of men who not only build straight
roads for their own feet, but in build
Ing them helped others to happier,
truer. more satisfying ways. The ad-
vcnturesome engineers who with dar-
ing and amazing skill built our great
transcontinental highways, doing the
seemingly impossible, must be re-
rarded as the benefactors of the race.
They built paths that countless thou
sands might pass in safety upon their
errands of pleasure or commercial en-
terprise.
Highway Builders of Race.
Every great invention or discovery
that has lightened human burdens.
stayed the ravages of disease, in
creased efficiency, facilitated travel
oirof oil I'D