Words of Wisdom.

Evening Star, Issue 7428, 25 January 1888, Page 4

Words of Wisdom.

Benevoh nee has a further-reaching service to render to mankind than is usually supposed. Not merely to listen to complaints, to relieve conscious suffering, and to supply recognised deficiencies is her appointed work, but also to detect the poverty that fancies itself rich, the ignorance that thinks itself wise, the grievances suffered unknowingly, the wrongs inflicted unthinkingly, the sins committed without remorse, the woes endured without effort to avert them. The true hero is generous and magnanimous, brave and patient, enthusiastic and earnest. Ho does not seek occasion for display ; he rejoices in every good or great thing done by another ; be gladly takes a second place when the first can be better filled ; he is ready to act when action is needed, and as ready to wait when patience is required. Jfc is brave without bravado, prepared for duty in whatever shape it appeals to him, and, when finished, he shuns all flourish or applause. Above all, be is no hero in bis own ryes. He who would do some great thing in this short life must apply himself to the work with such a concentration of bis energies as, to idle spectators who live only to amuse themselves, look.- - . like in&'.nity. Nothing can be done right and efficiently witnout order and system, from the boiling of an egg to the management of the heaviest business or enterprise. There is a routine even in our daily personal habits. He is considered a safe man or woman whom you always know " where to find." Literature is one of the instruments, one of the most powerful instruments, for forming character, for giving us men and women armed with reason, braced by knowledge, clothed with steadfastness and courage, and inspired by that public spirit and virtue of which it has been well said that they are the brightest ornaments of the mind of man. Many persons fail in their endeavors merely because they dwell so exclusively in their conceptions of future improvements that they forget the certain ami assured remits of the pii.t and iim aefinl workings o!' !h.! present. Thor;: arc vague imaginings and crude conceptions that can by no means stand the test of actual trial. It is often quite easy to conceive of something which it will be totally impossible to reduce to practice. Jts supposed advantages shine out brightly ; its real dilliculties do not appear.