Essays. Taking the Bull by the Horns.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 7, 6 December 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

Essays. Taking the Bull by the Horns.

There are two proverbs which seem to be a distinct contradiction o£ each other — " Delays are dangerous," " There's luck m leisure." Both proverbs, however, are true, according to the circumstances m which they may respectively be applied. Sometimes, and more particularly when a sudden and unpleasant emergency arises, it may be desirable and safe to act with promptitude, or at all events not to procrastinate.. On the other hand, there are occasions when people should take matters leisurely, and avoid plunging into a course of conduct that only by some rare chance will prove successful. It is not easy to offer any advice on the subject. The exercise of a sound judgment m relation to ordinary experiences will determine whether it is best'to delay or to act on the spur of the moment. Personally, we have always had an objection to put off time m following what appeared to be the line of duty, and on the whole feel that m the aggregate more mischief is done by taking things leisurely than by promptitude of action. Obviously, procrastination is something more than the proverbial " thief of time." Wasted energies, neglected opportunities, mental idleness, and general disorder of affairs, resulting m a dropping behind m the race of life, constantly rise up m aecusatiqn of the evil habit of putting off till tomorrow what could be and should be done today. Every one haa duties to fulfil, and the most fortunate of mortals has need of sustained energies ; but energies are frittered away by small frequently occurring emergencies far more than by employing them vigorously m seme really important matter. Figurately speaking, when a wise man has a trouble which can be removed by promptitude, he losea no time m " taking the bull by the horns." How often do people drift into a sea of troubles just because clear decision and vigorous action have not been forthcoming at some critical moment 1 Even the typical wise man makes mistakes sometimes, and has brought the figurative " enraged bull " down upon himself ; only he, instead of crouching before it or attempting to fly, turns and " takes it by the horns." He is not ashamed of owning his error. If he finds himself deoeived m the purport of an engagement into which he has been entrapped — be it the hiring of a house, the partnership of a business, or any of the multitudinous arrangements which complicate modern life— if he finds he has entered on a disastrous course which admits of no remedy while it is pursued, he will at the sacrifice of anything except honor, extricate himself from it without delay. The unhealthy house, the inconvenient house, or the house too large and expensive will always prove a depressing influence, and will have to be given up sooner or later. Ii there are smoky chimneys and damp rooms, remedy them if you can ; if you cannot, don't drift into a condition of chronic discomfort for want of prompt action and temporary sacrifice. To know when to make a sacrifice, and to be prompt m acting upon that knowledge, is a great secret of success m life. And now we would say a word on a very important theme. Young people often rush into matrimonial engagements with far too little understanding of each other's disposition and tastes. If longer acquaintance and more, intimate knowledge, instead of cementing the tie of affection, opens the eyes of either of the pair to the incompatibility of their, characters, surely it is the truest honor to speak the frank word before the irrevocable vows are taken. Though it is the duty of married people to bear and forbear, there are limits to human endurance which cannot be passed without serious injury of many sorts ; and where incompatibility i 3 detected before marriage, there is a great chance of its developing, not decreasing, afterwards. To break a matrimonial engagement is a terrible evil to encounter ; but still it is better to make the effort than with eyes open to incur lifelong misery. We remember long years ago reading a quaint rhyme, which we have never met with since. We think it ran thus : For every evil under the sun There is a remedy, or there is none ; If there is one, try and find it ; If there isn't — never mind it. Thsugh to indulge m vain regrets for the inevitable may be weak, and even sinful, it may on the other hand be a proof of moral strength, and the very exercise demanded of vs — to resist evil by the means within our reach. It is true that social life m tho present day is exceedingly complicated, so that it is perhaps more difficult to get out of a wrong groove than it was a generation back ; but that is no reason why the attempt should not be made. Letting things "drift" — a favorite axiom with may people — often leads to the wreck of fortune. Of course there are times when the most energetic must exercise patience, and wait for the turn of that " tide " which they wish to " take at the flood." But the really energetic are vigilant even when inactive, and generally speaking, they do not have to wait very long for their opportunities. We heard a story lately which interested us greatly, as a striking instance of " taking the bull by the horns." As the consequence of an unfortunate speculation, a family was suddenly reduced from affluence to penury. The blow was a terrible one, and for a brief period the whole family seemed paralysed ; but it was the noble-hearted wife who first roused herself, and bravely prepared to act with decision. The only pittance which remained was leas than a hundred a year, and this for people who had been accustomed to horses and carriages, and to fare sumptuously every day, and with seven children to feed and to clothe I Of course the father looked out for employment which should m some measure re-es-tablish hia position ; but fortunes are not re-made m a day or a year ; and his v/ife, delicately reared and accustomed to a large establishment, resolved as a first step to discharge every one of their servants. "We have health and we have hands," she said ; or at any rate used words to that effect m speaking to her children. "We must work ; and what we do not know how to do we must learn." Of course the first thing was to remove to a small house, only just roomy enough to contain its several inmates. But not even a " general servant " accompanied them. A frugal system of diet was adoptad, m which we believe oatmeal played a considerable part, and every purchase was made m the cheapest market. This rare lady had a horror of debt and a horror of pauperism, though she had not the ungrateful pride which would have made her decline all help offered to her children. They were helped to help themselves m more ways than one ; and when the darkest days were over, and tho " silver lining " of the cloud began to show, there is good reason to believe that she felt more of the good that had been hidden m the trouble. After all, the time was not so sad as it seemed. We may be pretty sure that it sifted friends m a wonderful manner, and that it was found that the true and the loyal were to be met with m all classes. Some acquaintances, of course, dropped off ; but it is doubtful if adversity tests friendship more than does prosperity. The rich and happy are much envied, and sometimes slandered ; but the best feelings of tho best people are generally drawn forth towards those m trouble. We fancy too that the brave lady of whom we arc writing did not allow herself to be ashamed of her poverty. If people whom she had visited m other days on equal terms, drove up to her door, we imagine she received them m her little parlor without any lachrymose manner; though perhaps, if busy starching or ironing,

she kept them waiting a few minutes, making due and truthful apology for doing so. Under such circumstances, it is very likely that her hand, though rough and hard from household work, was pressed with more than usual warmth by delicately gloved fingers. Now, if that wife had been content to sit bemoaning her helplessness and misfortune, while appealing right and left for aid, what an inferior position vould she now be m I nob only m reference to worldly affairs, but m regard to the estimation of her character. Bepide: J , energy is very contagious, and hers must not only have cheered her husband m his trouble, but must have been communicated to her children. The constant occupation too was the very best thing for them all ; it left no time for mere fretting; and probably natural fatigue from physical exertion prevented anxious thoughts from keeping them awake at night. JNo doubt our heroine was very glad when brighter days dawned again, and she could return to more congeuial occupations than sweeping rooms and lighting fires ; but we believe she would do just the sama as before, should the same terrible occasion recur. Perhaps it is only when we are somewhat advanced m life that we see with any clearness of mental vision the <( uses of adversity." 16 is when we look back on the sundry beginnings and endiuga of things— on the'completed careers of the successful — and on the ultimate triumph of good over evil m the multitude of cases within our knowledge, that we begin to perceive how necessary trials to be encountered and difficulties to be overcome are to the strengthening of character and the development of the human being. — Chambers' Journal.