THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
J'
while he joins himself to the great deep law of the world
in spite of all superficial laws, temporary appearances,
profit and loss calculations, ho is victorions while ho co
operates with that great central law, not victorious other
wise." Tills is the doctrine he holds, that under the
fleoliog evanescent forms of the world, lies a deeper mean,
ing, that behind all these shifting scenes there is a steady
purpose, that all is tending to one great end, "That far off
divine event, Towards which the whole creation
moves.
Perhaps it may seem to somo that he has uttered noth
ing now, nothing bin what has been repeated again and
again sinco the world bogan, As to that everything is old
the human race, the laws and thoughts that govnru it,
these aro the same yesterday, to-day and for over. Wo
cannot look for anything absolutely original, but ps in
times of war men chooso for commander oho not fertile in
now arts or stratagems, but most expert in tho old, so we
in llteraturo choose our leader as ho brings not what is
unusual, hut what is valuable. The minor seeks not for
rare and unknown metals, but gold alone, and ho who
gets most is richest. Character Is the great end of tho
race to which all other things aro subordinate. He who
contributes most t3 this, we count greatest.
We have spokou of tho distinctive trails of Curlylo and
now we come to our test question, what can ho teach us
lie holds up to us the necessity of bolug true, of living In
accordance with our inward convictions, our instincts, oft
avoiding tho dwarfing influence of simulation and dirt
simulation those ho insists on with emphasis, confirmed
by Ills own expenonco. For as W. Mathews says, "it
makes a vast difference in tho weight of words, whether
they como from ouo who has been tried and proved in the
world's fiery furnace, and whoso whole lifo has been u
trip hammer to drive home what he says, or from a cal
low youth who prates of that he fools nor, and testifies to
things which aro not realities to his own consciousness."
But it is diillcult to estimate a gro-U man, after you have
said all you can say, there remains still one groat fact, tho
fact that ho alone can communicate to you tho Influence
of the association with greatness. Ills like the contem
plation of tho starry universo at night, the grauduerand
vastness of tho scene sllontly moves and impresses you
"though there is no speech or lauguago, their voice is not
heurd." Thus it is with great souls, their very being
comuumlcatea itsolf to you and inspires you. Whlloyou
are with them they bear you along on tho same strong
current with themselves, and jou feel .yourself becoming
vast with them.
Curlylo speaks from his inmost soul, and appeals to tho
inmost soul in ourselves. From this fact arises his in
fluence. Il Is a law of physics that fluids seek their own
level, thus with great minds, whllo we aro with them they
raise us for the timo to their own wator-mark. Hence
Oarlylo's words will live, for says Emerson "tho thing
that is uttered from the inmost part of a man's soul differ
altogether from what Is uttered by tho outer part. Ths
outer part is of tho day under the empire ot mode, th0
tho outer purl passes away in swift endless changes, tho
inmost part is tho same yesterday, to-day and forovor."
Ono of Carlylo's great merits is his suggestivoness. Wo
think no one can read him thoroughly and understand
iiigly without being awakened and aroused to vigor of
thought himself. Ho speaks winged words words which
impel and invite to new regions. His thougtii is sometime
obscure, ho requires that you climb to the same eminenco
with him or you connot seo all that he sees. But this is
not altogether undosirable, as Siiinle Beuvo says, "tho
greatest poet is not ho who has done the best, it is ho who
suggests tho most, he not all of whoso meaning is obvious
at ilrsf, who leaves you much to desire, to explain, to
study much to complete in your own turn." Carlylo has
done much to free modern literature from the servile
imitation of tho classic. Ho saw how runious to its lifo
was the belief that the present Is barren and unfruitful
that the past has exhausted all the sources. Ho insists on
the idea as one writer expresses it that "where tho heart is
tli ere aro tho muses, there tho gods sojourn and not in any
geography of fame."
Now as to tho private lifo of Carlylo much comment
has been excited. His domestic relutions were not alto
gether happy. Although a great genius, we havo to
acknowledge ho is only a man, possessing many of the
weaknesses in common with the race. Men aro -'what
they must be, not what thoy ought to be," some catch
glimpses of tho sublimity of lifo in its highest sense, but
the light with which thoy behold this fitful unci uncertain,
often it nearly goes out leaving them enshrouded in dark
ness. Tho perfect, consistent philosopher and doer, the
reconciler, is yet to como. We aro still linked to tho
world, our vision is v iled towards tho tilings "on tho
oilier side of silence," henco our failures, for "things
divine aio not attainable by mortals who understand sen
sual things, it is only the light armed who arrive at the sum
mit." Carlylo attained hlgh-liights, ho has seen much,
and if sometimes under the weight of care, he forgets his
lofty position wo may pardon him, to use tho words of
Confucius, "our greatest glory is not in never falling, but
in rising every time wo fall."
The words of Carlylo have their root in tho universal
language, ho speaks not merely to his own people, his
own generation but to mankind. Ho has caught the air of
tho "eternal melodies" and litis sent them roverborating
through tho world. These havo roarod for him a column
which, like that of Horace neither (ho lapso of ages nor
corroding showers shall destroy.
C. S. Allen.
Students, when you want a first class shave or a boss
hair cut go '" uu Wester fields corner of O and Twolveth.
Don't forget n.
JEFFERSON'S RULES.
Thomas Jefferson's ten rules, says a correspondent of the
Globe, aro worth reproducing for tho benefit of tho rising
generation. They are:
1 Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to
day. 2. Never trouble others for what you can do yourself.
8. Never spend your money boforo you havo It.
4. Never buy what you do not wantbocause it is cheap.
G. Pride costs us more than huugor, thirst, or cold.
0, We never repent of having caton too littlo.
7. Nothing is tronblesomo that wo do willingly.
8. How much pain havo those evils cost us which never
happened ?
0. Take tilings always by their smooth handle),
10. Whctf angry, count ten boforo you speak when
very angry, count a hundred. Youth's Companion: