I daily beg on bended knee from Thee;
But for Thy guidance. Make my life so fit
That ne'er in condemnation must I sit,
Judged by the clear-eyed children Thou gav'st me."
To the home-maker, for instance, with an ideal like this, life cannot seem listless and futile, nor of such an one can it be said that her life has been lived in vain.
Does it not follow that the only life worth living is that which is actuated by a real purpose, a lofty ideal, a clear vision? How much in the way of successful and happy living depends upon our ideals! Let us look well to our aims; waste no time in idle dreaming, but keep ever before us some far-away and hopeful vision.
PROGRESS AND REFORM
We believe that progress is made by means of genuine reform. In every instance we find ourselves on the side of wholesome reform, for in this way only true progress seems to lie. The changes that have taken place within the past fifty years in our educational system are great, indeed. No doubt these changes have been beneficial in the main, and yet further changes are still needful. Certainly, according to recent developments, some change seems to be called for in our reformatory institutions.
In general, it seems to us the transition from our schools and colleges to the imperative duties and occupations of life is too abrupt, too difficult and sadly unsatisfactory; at least this is true in case of the majority of young people. Education should prepare one to pass easily and readily into some chosen occupation, and the first need of every human being is the chance to earn a living; since every one should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Do our schools fit or unfit our youth for life's real work? Can they engage at once and successfully in some congenial occupation? Until these questions can be favorably answered, we advocate reform in our forms of education. Labor we must; a taste, even a fondness for wholesome, necessary labor should be cultivated in our schools.
It has been stated and confirmed by those in authority that $300,000,000 might be saved per year in the conduct of our government on a strictly business basis. If this be true, here reform, good and true, is an imperative need. Such a condition of affairs is in no sense humorous. For what do we choose our legislators? Is it to squander or conserve the revenues and resources of the State?