may seem so when we see the low shifts,
petty meannesses, shams and fals pretenses
which skulk through the world like creeping
things with low names ; but when we walk
the mountain ranges of thought, and from
those lofty heights catch glimpses of the noble
deeds blazing on the bosoms of the centuries,
like beacon lights illuminating the pathways
of humanity, we realize the solemnity of life,
its capabilities and divinity.
When in the stillness of the soul thought
burst into flame, and winged as it were, with
lightning speed, sweeps a universe, a sudden
vision of the mystery of life oppresses the
spirit, and yet exalts it and reveals the dignity
of man. Excepting God Himself, what is
there more wondrous than the 'existence of
the finite amid the Infinite, than this birth of
feeling, thinking, seeing, and active principle
in our breasts, which but a short while since
was insensate dust ? Yea, what is more
marvelous than this, that we are living souls
abroad on the face of this beautiful world,
which was once without form and void ? Well
might the son of the morning shout for joy
when the first man stood up erect under the
trees of Eden. From that day to this, life
has been one long conference between man
and the Deity. On our part to assume re
sponsibilities, and to do brave and manly
work; on His part to warn, counsel and in
struct.
We might possibly conclude that life is
worth living from the facts that men persist
in sustaining life, sacrifice all their physical
powers and their honest substance to conquer
sickness and resist that universal inevitable
death. But how trifling would be the estimate
of God’s greatest gift. If we would realize its
true worth, we must do bur part, grasp oppor
tunities, assume responsibilities, and do brave
and manly work ; for it is these three acts
that bring order out of chaos, that give im
petus to life and reveal its dignity and divin
ity. ... : ' , :■! ■>'.
THE FREE LANCE.
Imagine, if you please, the complete extinc
tion of these three acts from the threshold of
our existence. Now subject your prejudices,
and honestly ask yourselves the question,
“ Would life be worth living under these cir
cumstances ?” I already anticipate your frank
answer, “No.”
It is these three acts that give life its true
worth; that grace the centuries with the
splendor of scientific achievement; that from
day to day, year to year, speed civilization in
a career of grandeur, eclipsing each preceding
stage of human progress; that guide and di
rect us toward the goal of that higher life, and
that ultimately make the man.
Oppotunities lie on every hand, —none so
obscure as not to meet with them, —none so
great as to be exempt from them. The real
hero of our day is he who boldly grapples
with every duty as it arises, and confronts it
with a resolute will to perform it. His con
temporaries may sneer and scoff at him, but
coming ages will build his monument. So
grappled America’s dead hero boldly with all
duties and always accomplished the desired
result; and yet his contemporaries wronged
him; but the powder has all been burned once,
its force is spent and Gen, Grant’s name will
glitter as a bright and imperishable star in
the diadem of the republic, while those who
have tried to tarnish it will have mouldered
in forgotten graves and their memories and
epitaphs will have vanished utterly,
Man is set here to live and act, not like an
alien passing through an enemy’s camp in dis
guise, where no allegiance is due, but like a
citizen fixed on historic soil, pledged by hon
orable memories to nurse yet nobler hopes.
Every opportunity carries with it a charac
teristic responsibility, and it is the responsi
bility connected with brave and manly works
that gives them weight and prominence. For
the chief executive to swear that we will faith
fully execute the .office- of President of the
United States,, and will to the best .of his