Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/677



Does not God often appear to withhold aid only that we may have the joy of winning victories by our own powers? (Text.)

(2874)

That self-help is the best help is illustrated by the statements of a writer in Health, who says of the muscles:

It is dangerous to assist any muscle of the body. The more a muscle is assisted, the weaker it gets and the less it responds to the motor nerves. If any part of the body is deformed or has become weakened as the result of certain muscles failing to perform their duty, the muscles should be strengthened, not helped. If the abdomen protrudes as the result of the abdominal muscles having become weak, do not support the abdomen with a bandage, thus making the abdominal muscles still weaker. Strengthen the abdominal muscles, thus making a natural bandage. The same is true in reference to other braces and bandages. Never help a muscle, for you only weaken it. Exercise the muscle; it will then help itself.

(2875)

SELF-HIDDEN

One way to win success in work and war is to subordinate self to the service, as the following lines suggest:

He held the lamp of truth that day So low that none could miss the way; And yet so high to bring in sight That picture fair—the world's great Light; That, gazing up—the lamp between— The hand that held it scarce was seen.

He held the pitcher, stooping low To lips of little ones below; Then raised it to the weary saint, And bade him drink, when sick and faint! They drank—the pitcher thus between— The hand that held it scarce was seen.

He blew the trumpet soft and clear, That trembling sinners need not fear; And then with louder note and bold, To raze the walls of Satan's hold! The trumpet coming thus between, The hand that held it scarce was seen.

But when the Captain says, "Well done, Thou good and faithful servant—come! Lay down the pitcher and the lamp Lay down the trumpet—leave the camp," The weary hands will then be seen, Clasped in those pierced ones—naught between. (Text.)

(2876)

Self-improvement—See.

Self-injury—See.

SELF-INSPECTION

John Wesley drew up at Oxford for himself and his companions a scheme of self-*examination which Southey declares, with some truth, might well be appended to the spiritual exercises of Ignatius Loyola. Here are samples: "Have I been simple and recollected everything I did?" And under this head is a swarm of microscopic tests of "sincerity" which the soul was to apply to itself. "Have I prayed with fervor?" Then follows a list of the times in each day at which prayer must be offered, and a series of tests for ascertaining the exact degree of fervor in each prayer—tests which irresistibly suggest a spiritual thermometer, with a graduated scale to register the rise of the mercury. Wesley adopted the practise his mother urged of asking, "Have I, in private prayer, frequently stopt short and observed what fervor in devotion?" That is, the anxious soul was to keep one eye directed to the object of prayer, and the other vigilantly fixt upon itself, so as to observe its own behavior.—, "Wesley and His Century."

(2877)

A traveler, reaching a mining camp unexpectedly, found the miners very rough in manners and appearance owing to their long absence from conventional life. On leaving the camp for a farther journey, the traveler handed one of the leaders a looking-glass. A glance at it amazed the man, and soon all the other miners were crowding round him for a sight of themselves. Then the traveler departed, promising to return in a month. On his return he found an extraordinary change had taken place. The men, having realized by the mirror what uncouth, unshaven fellows they had become, had reformed as regards their appearance and were now as smart and clean as ordinary civilized beings. It was a sight of themselves which had worked the change.

(2878)

SELF-LIMITATIONS

"Lakeview; why, I should have thought they would call it Seaview!" exclaimed the island tourist, standing on the brow of the hill.

"But they don't see the sea from the