SELF COMPLACENCY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2277, 8 September 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

SELF COMPLACENCY.

Most of us, at middle age, give ourselves credit for having outgrown many of the petty vanities and selfillusions of life, when, in fact, we have outlived them only. The charm of freshness in our early idols, that so bewitched us, is no longer there to illude. Perhaps we mistook the fleeting phantoms of the passing hour for things of substance and significance. We may do so again. We cannot be sure—and it would not be safe so to flatter ourselves —that we are wiser or greater or better, simply because we sometimes throw away our toys when we are tired of them, or their first gloss is worn oil', or the sawdust begins to run out of them.

Often we have grown none the less guillible, although our fancy is jaded, our feelings an; hackneyed, and the spontaneity of our nature has vanished. The fact that we arc found discarding our early likings is not to be taken as conclusive proof that we desire superior spiritual food. For frequently this fact is no evidence that our superficial, or ill regulated appetite is really changed, although it craves a fresh stimulus of novelty, or some other tempting spice to tickle the palate, or keep us going. It has been counted always a good augury for wisdom of character and sweetness of life, when the feelings of vouth are carried fresh into riper years; but the intellect that does not outgrow the desire for childish employment, nor strive to grapple with the serious problems of life, wastes the opportunities of existence, and prematurely fades from frivolity to imbecility. Indeed, some men exhaust thp sap of life, and get all of their intellectual growth early, and then begin to dry up; while others are always growing—the freshness of youth continually sprouting in their feelings—until extreme old age cries out—"Check '' : -Paul Siegvolk