wmemmm
MOTIVES.
"Wlio aro tho nobles of the earth,
Tho trucaiistocraK
Who need not bow their beads to lord",
Or dort to kings holr lints?
Who arc tlioy but thu men of toll,
Tho mighty nml tbo free,
Whoso hearts and bunds subdue the earth,
And compass all tbo sent
They clnlm no gaud of heraldry,
And scorn tho knighting rod:
Tlrtdr coats of arms are noble deeds;
Tiioir peerage is from God.
They take not from ancestral graves
Tho glory of their name,
Jut win, as erst their fathers won,
The laurel wreath of fame."
MOTTVES.
In looking about us we find a portion
of our fcllowmcn toiling and striving
with every power H1C3 possess to accomp
lish this or that object; but a far linger
portion Hoaling down life's stream, mak
ing scarcely an cflbrt or using a power be
yond what is necessary to supply their
daily wants. What are the motives that
have roused to action the few? "Where
lies tho secret awaiting the skillful touch
lhal is to awaken the many V
Hidden in the mass of humanity, as in
nature, are powers yet undeveloped and to
whomsoever will unfold them the bene,
dictions of all mankind arc waiting.
This question is eminently a practical
one for as one's knowledge of the inlluen
ocs that control men's acts, so is his pow
er among them.
In general, all persons have some ruling
desire that shapes the events of their lives,
and to this influence, whatever it may be,
all other considerations arc subordinate.
What this stanuttrd is determines the
whole life and character of the individual.
All persons are true to themselves, and
never take a step or do a deed in opposi
tion to the dictates of their highest ambi.
tinn. These motives, with different indi
viduals, vary as greatly as do the condi
tions of the human race, and are deter
mined by surroundings and education.
It is absurd to say that there is but one
true motive in life and that all should aim
at the same mark be judged h' tho satno
standard. A savage can not be brought
to comprehend tho longings of a cultured
mind. You may tcacli him that there are
possibilities in life better than he has yet
attained, but you must still raise a stand
ard on the low plains of life. Of course
all should aim in tho same direction up
ward. Hut do not take something beyond
the range of your abilities to attain.
If you would work to any purpose
choose a motive that you can understand.
This is not the usual theory; we are told
to aim high and if we miss our mark, we,
at least, will not be the worse for the at
tempt. It is better to give lhal elevation
suited to the range of our artillery than to
point directb upwards; by the latter plan
we may reach higher altitudes, but when
our force is exhausted we begin to de
scend and the ball crushes us. Every per
son is fitted by nature within certain rang,
es to comprehend clearly and distinctly,
of anything above this level he can form
only 0eneral conceptions A confused,
mystical ideal should never be adopted,
if it is the results will be doubtful and un
certain. A distinct plan of life can not
be drawn in a sphere with which we are
not familiar.
Ideals are often taken second hand.
This is a dangerous experiment. Unless
you borrow from persons of similar
tastes with j-ourselves the result will bo
either a double motive one theoretical,
another actual or a life wasted in a vain
attempt to accomplish what you wore not
fitted for.
We have said that all persons have some
ideal for which they are striving. This
is true but with too many it has not been
the product of a wise judgement, but is
such as nature has furnished, unaided by
airy serious thought. Such motives are
not the noblest. Mankind naturally retro
grade. It is only by constant and persist
ent labor that progress is maintained.
Every individual should establish for
himself, carefully but firmly, a motive.
One that would embody all the highest
