Editorials from the Hearst NewspapersBrisbane, Arthur
Philosophy
Editorials from the Hearst Newspapers
Brisbane, Arthur
Editorials; Essays
We shall move up a step--as boys do in the public schools. We
shall have been moon men, earth men, and shall graduate into sun
men. Think of a home so vast! On that grand star we shall lead
lives worth while, and justify Huxley's belief that men exist
somewhere compared to whom we should "be as black beetles
compared to us."
The excitement of meeting our brothers from other planets as they
move up to the sun in batchcs will be great.
WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING'S SYMPHONY
THE THOUGHT--
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than
luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy,
not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and
birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to
think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry
never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common--this is my symphony.
WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING.
TO LIVE CONTENT WITH SMALL MEANS.
This means to realize to the full the possibilities of life.
Contentment means ABSENCE OF WORRY. It is only when free from
worry that the brain can act normally, up to its highest
standard. The man content with small means does his best work,
devotes his energies to that which is worth while, and not to
acquiring that which has no value.
TO SEEK ELEGANCE RATHER THAN LUXURY.
The difference between elegance and luxury is the difference
between the thin, graceful deer, browsing on the scanty but
sufficient forest pasture, and the fat swine revelling in
plentiful garbage.
REFINEMENT RATHER THAN FASHION.
The difference between refinement and fashion is the difference
between brains and clothing, the difference between an Emerson or
a Huxley and a Beau Brummel or other worthless but elaborately
decked carcass.
TO BE WORTHY, NOT RESPECTABLE.
In other words, to be like Henry George, and not like the owner
of a trust.
WEALTHY, NOT RICH.
The man who has a good wife and good children, enough to take
care of them, but not enough to spoil them, is WEALTHY. He is
happier than the man who is RICH enough to be worried, rich
enough to make it certain that his children will be ruined by
extravagance, and perhaps live to be ashamed of him.
TO LISTEN TO STARS AND BIRDS, BABES AND SAGES, WITH OPEN HEART.
This means to enjoy the noblest gifts that God has given to man.
He is happy who takes more pleasure in a beautiful sunset than in
the sight of a flunky with powdered hair, artificial calves and
lofty manners, handing him something indigestible on a plate of
gold.
TO STUDY HARD; TO THINK QUIETLY, ACT FRANKLY, TALK GENTLY.
To exercise in this way the brain that is given to us is to lead
the life of a MAN, a life of self-control, a life that is worth
while, that leads to something and helps forward the improvement
of the race.
In the words which we have quoted at the top of this column
William Henry Channing has given a recipe for wise living. ----
WHO WAS CHANNING?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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