SELF RELIANCE.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4833, 5 July 1884, Page 1

SELF RELIANCE.

The habit of depending on others if an evidence of weakness. With /many it is natural. From early childhood there are'" those who appear to need a stronger person to lean on. Like vines that mast cling to trees for support, some persons are ever feeling after a stronger influence to' bear, them up. Whether this can be overcome where it is inherent is a question. It has been argued that it cannot. And yet there,' are cases where under stress of cireum-' stances natures that before were weak and yielding have become strong and vigorous. It has often been'remarked that'women on - shipboard hare shown in times of distress fortitude and courage greater than that'of v strong men. It thus seems clear that this quality may be acquired" when occasion demands-it., Can it be cultivated for the ' uses^of life ? Self-reliance is dependence on self in emergencies and all the duties and struggles of life. Some idea of what we are—the habit of self-dependence—is a preparation for this. And in order to do this we believe the more responsibility children are made to assume at home the better for- ,them. For example, a round X \ bf duties may be assigned, for the correct performance of which they are held res» ponsible. It may be the care of' a room, • the ' setting apart, of certain hours for S study. No matter-what responsibility is attachad and the child then left. If careless t it is evident that it is weak in a very important particular. Any education, along, this line, mast Be, regular and constant. In a more advanced stage this 1 element assumes the exercise of judgment. :, As a." rule, selfrreliant persons are those who'J|; have decided opiuions. Thry thus act.. Fault-finding. criticism is not as a role '"A good. It tends' to embarras and discourage. We remember a boy who foryetrs could notj be taughtto observe., Censure, abuse, scorn', and ridicule only confused and discouraged. One day a gentleman pointed out things in a pleasant, kindly way. The dormant faculties were aroused in the boy, and his power of observation ' rapidly grew. So with judgment: Itis.a'i faculty that can be cultivated' and en-' couraged. ' $ But all mental qualities need to.be encouraged, not driven. A lout may be ■■ driven to manual labonr, buttbe intelligent must be encouraged, /Self-reliance "'' is a moral quality, based on a certain appreciation of our intellectual faculities. And it is self-reliant tenacity that reaches ultimate success. In many cases the differ* ence in success or failure is that of selfreliance and tenacity in the promoter-of an enterprise. .And where possessed, it will ovenide difficulties that appear insur*. mouotable to' the week. It is a quality that may well be cultivated.—Philadelphia Call. . • „ ,-