SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 232, 8 January 1898, Page 6 (Supplement)

SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

THE DUTY OF HAPPINESS. •• If o man is unhappy, tins must be his own fault ; for God made all men to be happy."—Epictctus, Life is a great gift, and as we reach years of discretion, we most of us naturally ask ourselves what should be the main o!j-ct of our existence. Eye-ii those who do not accept " the greatest good of the greatest number" as an absolute rule, will yet admit that we should all endeavour to contribute as far as avc may to the happiness of our fellowcreatures. There are mmy, however, who seem to doubt whether it is right that we shou'd try to be happy ourselves. Our own happiness ought not, of course, to be our main object, nor indeed will it ever be secured if selfishly sought. We may have many pleasures in life, but must not let them have rule over us, or they will soon hand us over to morrow ; and " into what dangerous and miserable servitude does he fall who sufferth pleasures and soirows (two uufaithful and cruel commanders) to possess him successively" (Seneca.) I cannot, howevtr, but think that the world would be better and brighter if our teachers would dwell qh the Duty of Happiness as well as on the Happiness of Dutv 5 for we oiybt to be as cheerful as wo can, if only b cuise to be hippy ourselves, in a most eff.ctual contribution to the happiness of others. Everyone must have felt that a cheerful friend is like a sunny day, which sheds its brightness on all around ; and mest of U 3 can, as we choose, make of this world either a palace or a prison. There is no doubt some selfish tatisfaotion in yielding to mc'ancholy fancying that we are the victims of fate ; in brooding over grievances, especially if more or less imaginaiy. To be bright and cheer-, ful of tea requires an effort 5 there in a certain art in keeping ourselves happy ; and in this respect, as in others, we require to watch over and manage ourselves almost as if we were somebody else. Life is not to live mere'y, but to live well. There are some " who live without any design at all, and only pass in the world like straws on a river; t! ey do not go ; thoy are carried," (Seneca)—but {,3 Homer makes Ulysses say, 'How dull it is to to make an end, to rest unburnished ; not to shme in useas though to breathe were life !" Life must indeed be measured by tho.ight and action, not by t'me. It certainly may be, and ought to be, bright, interesting and happy and, according to the Italian proverb " if all caiuiot live on the Pi-.»zzv, everyone may f>-c' the sun," If >ye do our best; if we do not magnify trifling troubles ; if we resolutely look, I do not say at the bright s'de of things, hut at things as they really are, if wo avail ourselves of the manifold blessings which surround us ; we cannot but feel that life is indeed a glorious inheritance, Pow of us, howor, realise tho wonder, ful privi'ege of living, or the blessings we inherit j the glories aud beautic3 of the Universe, which is our own if we choo e to have it so; the extent to which we can make curse'ves what wo wish to be ; or the power we po sesi of securing peace, of triumphing over pain and sorrow. Dante point d to the neglect of opportunities as a serious fault. Ruskin has expressed this with special allusion to the marvellous beauty of this glorious world, toy often taken as a matter of course, and remembered, if at all, without gratitude. Holy men " he complains, " in the recommending of the love of God to us, refer but seldom to those things in which it is most abundautly and immediately shown ; though they insist most on His giving of bread, aed ra ; ment, and health (which He gives to all inferior creatures) ; they require us not to thank Him for that glory of His works which He Inn permitted us alone to perceive ; they tell 113 often to meditate in the clo3ct, but they send us not, like Isaac, into the ficlda at even ; they dwell

on the duty of stlf-rlenial, but they exhibit int the duty of delight." Sir John Lonrocic (F)

(To be continue-!.).