When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.—Jonathan Swift. Perhaps no other every-day virtue counts for so much in the general welfare of the world as the adapting of one’s self to, and the making the most of, one’s immediate surroundings. It is in the hundreds of little, unrecorded deeds of kindness and goodness that we lay the foundations of character. And because these humble lives, that mean so much to the other humble lives with which they What we have got to do is to keep up our spirits and be neighborly. We shall come all right in the end, never fear.—Dickens. come into touch, are never specifically named and shouted by the multitudinous tongues of type, that many fail to see in them the elements of true and noble achievement with which they are crowned. "The most inspiring tales," it has been truly said, "are those that have not been written; the most heroic deeds are those that have not been told; the world’s greatest successes have been Happiness is the feeling we experience when we are too busy to be miserable.—Thomas L. Masson. won in the quiet of men’s hearts, the noblest heroes are the countless thousands who have struggled and triumphed, rising on stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things."
Since it is these humbler every-day virtues that one is called upon oftenest to exercise, or to neglect, it is apparent Duty is the sublimest word in the English language.—Gen. Robert E. Lee. that the one who possesses the most of them and who cultivates them the most earnestly has the greatest number of opportunities of winning the admiration of others. It is of a girl possessing this fine adaptability to the world’s workaday surroundings that "Amber" draws this pen-picture: "Shall I tell the kind of girl Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.—Keller. that I especially adore? Well, first of all, let us take the working girl. She is not a ’lady’ in the acceptance of the term as it is employed by many members of this latter day’s hybrid democracy. She is just a blithe, cheery, sweet-tempered The activity and soundness of a man’s actions will be determined by the activity and soundness of his thoughts.—Beecher. young woman. She may have a father rich enough to support her at home, but for all that she is a working girl. She is never idle. She is studying or sewing or helping about the home part of the day. She is romping or playing or swinging out of doors the other part. She is never What men want is not talent, it is purpose; not the power to achieve, but the will to labor.—Bulwer Lytton. frowsy or untidy or lazy. She is never rude or slangy or bold. And yet she is always full of fun and ready for frolic. She does not depend upon a servant to do what she can do for herself. She is considerate toward all who serve her. She is reverent to the old and thoughtful of the feeble. She never criticises when criticism can wound, and she is ready with a helpful, loving word for every one. Sometimes she has no father, or her parents are too poor to support her. Then she goes out and earns her living by whatever her hands find to do. She clerks in a store, or she counts out change at a cashier’s desk, or she teaches school, or she clicks a typewriter, or rather a telegrapher’s key, but We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.—Longfellow. always and everywhere she is modest and willing and sweet.
"She has too much dignity to be imposed upon, or put to open affront, but she has humility also, and purity that differs from prudishness as a dove The great hope of society is individual character.—Channing. in the air differs from a stuffed bird in a showcase. She is quick to apologize when she knows she is in the wrong, yet no young queen ever carried a higher head than she can upon justifiable occasions. She Concentrate all your thought upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.—Alexander G. Bell. is not always imagining herself looked down upon because she is poor. She knows full well that out of her own heart and mouth proceed the only witnesses that can absolve or condemn her. If she is quick to be courteous, unselfish, gentle and retiring in speech and manner in Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.—George Washington. public places, she is true gold, even though her dress be faded and her hat a little out of style. You cannot mistake any such girl any more than you can mistake the sunshine that follows the rain or the lark that springs from the hawthorne hedge. All things that are blooming and sweet attend her! The earth is better for her passing through it and heaven will be fairer for her habitation therein."
How fortunate it is for us who would practice these little every-day virtues that we do not have to wait for some noted person at some remote time to tell the world that we are striving in our own humble way to be kind and thoughtful. There is some one within the sound of our voice and within the reach of our hand who will be glad to testify to our goodness.
Kindness is never shown in vain.
The public school playground transposes many a boy from a public liability to a public asset.—A. E. Winship. The gift blesses the giver, even though the one receiving the gift is ungrateful. Consciously or unconsciously we exert an influence upon all who come within the zone of our being. Surely those who know us best ought to be the ones to appreciate Real coolness and self-possession are the indispensable accompaniments of a great mind.—Dickens. us the most intelligently. If we are lovable, will they not love us? If we love them, will it not serve to make them lovable? Let us not keep the nice little attentions and the carefully selected words for the stranger and the passer-by, but have as much regard for the ones of our own intimate family circle. One of the crying needs of society is the revival of gentleness and of a refined considerateness in judging others.—Newell D. Hillis. We should be happy to do most for them who do most for us. One of our students of human happiness says to us: "Get into the way of idealizing what you have; let the picturesqueness of your own imagination play round the village where you do live, instead of the one where you wish to live; weave a romance round the brother you have got, instead In this world inclination to do things is of more importance than the mere power.—Chapin. of round the Prince Perfect of a husband whom you have not got." And Marcus Aurelius says: "Think not so much of what thou hast not, as of what thou hast; but of the things which thou hast, select the best, and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought if thou had’st them not."
Character lives in a man, reputation outside of him.—J. G. Holland. Culture, itself, is but a composite expression of our simple, every-day virtues. It must be measured by its outward manifestation of regard for the pleasure, Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.—Johnson. happiness and advancement of others. Literary culture will open up the windows of the soul that the light of virtue from within may shine forth and dispel the darkness of vice with which it comes in contact. "Unless one’s knowledge of good books—his literary scholarship—has Patience is a necessary ingredient of genius.—Disraeli. so taken hold upon him as to make him exemplary, in a large measure, he cannot be said to be cultured," says one of our students of higher ethics. "His learning should cultivate a choice and beautiful address, a cheerful and loving countenance, a magnificent and spirited carriage, a refinement of manner, an agreeable presence."
The extent to which we may feel a sense of peaceful satisfaction at the end of a day, depends upon how we have lived that day. We soon learn that the day means most for us in which we do most for others. If we have lived for self alone, it has been
A LOST DAY
Count that day truly worse than lost
You might have made divine,
Through which you sprinkled bits of frost
But never a speck of shine.