THE HIGHER SATISFACTIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 131, 19 June 1937, Page 11

THE HIGHER SATISFACTIONS

''Tlie higher satisfactions of my life," wroto James Smetham, the nineteenth century artist, "are budlt far above the marshy lands of professional success. ' ' The last phrase needs no illustration in these days of commercial inseourity. Many a business man knows only too weil what a marshy region professional success is — how uncertain, doubtful, and treaeherous. All thc more important, then, to realise the significance of those "higher satisfactions" which are built, if they are •built at all, on firmer ground. What are \hese higher satisfactions? Ruskin tells us that we can build for ourselves "fairy palaces of beautiful thoughts, which caro cannot disturb, nor pain malte gloomy, nor poverty tako from us," out of such things as "bright fanciee, satisfied memories, noble histories, faithful sayings, and says that these "houses built without hands, for our souls to dwell in," are "proof against all adversity." How splendidly true this is, especiai ly if to the higher satisfactions mentioned by Rusldn we add such things as a good conscience, a noble purpo.se, and a holy faith! These are inalienablo resources, and wjth them a man is superior to all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune — independent of anythiiicr and everything- that: can happen. "M'y circumstances may bo accountcd unfortunate," says a rccontwriter, "but I have an inward pro.ipcrify of my own." And that is tho only prosperit.y that is invulnerable. — A.G.C.