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Why Should Our Hearts be Sorrowful?

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Title	Why Should Our Hearts be Sorrowful?
Description	An essay/speech by Hattie Carmichael Williams for Whitworth Female College in Brookhaven, Mississippi.
Digital ID#	20-234
Physical ID	20-237
Object Type	Document
Creator	Williams, Hattie Carmichael.
Subject	Women--Education--Mississippi. Speeches, addresses, etc.--American--Women authors.
Geographic location	Brookhaven (Miss.)
Date	1897
Time period	1890-1899
Original Collection	Williams (Daniel) Papers
Publisher	Mississippi State University Libraries (electronic version).
Rights	Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.
Format (original)	3-page document 24.7 x 19.4 cm.
Format (digital)	200 dpi JPEG image
Repository	Manuscripts Division, Special Collections Department, Mississippi State University Libraries.
Location of Original	Williams (Daniel) Papers/Box 1/Honor speeches of Hattie Carmichael Williams
Related materials	A digitization project sponsored by the Consortium for the History of Agricultural and Rural Mississippi (CHARM).
Language	en
Contact information	For more information send email to sp_coll@library.msstate.edu or call 662-325-7679.
facet format	document
Transcript	Why should our hearts be sorrowful? "Though man was born to trouble, though in the human heart is implanted a feeling of despondency and repining, yet in the same nature there is energy sufficient, there is a current of opposing passions strong enough to counteract this innate, mournful influence. True, it requires great philosophy of mind, great forbearance, and a spirit of generosity and charity to accomplish this task, so Herculean. And 'tis almost equally as true, that these victorious weapons, these sterling qualities are seldom found combined in one nature; that is, are not perceived as having power and exercising it; and the effort to arouse these dormant energies (possessed by everyone) is almost as great task as to conquer this baneful influence to which reference has been made. Indeed, where these counteracting energies or emotions are fully awakened, brought into action, immediately their power is acknowledged and the real nature of the former tyrant, (tyrant made so, by our own weakness and imagination) is seen, as it lies writhing beneath the conqueror's feet. Why did we yield to this tyrant? Why heed its voice, when it whispered only of sorrow and anguish? [page 2] Why stay its breath, when each breath was a poisonous blast, withering, crushing every earthly hope and pleasure? Why not seek the aid of reason -- prove ourselves philosophers? Philosophers, not such, perhaps, as those who fathom deep mysteries, and present to the world's gaze a chain of reasoning, whose strength and length requires ages of study. And yet to us a victory as great, a triumph as glorious. Who doubts triumph, or will dare assert that our philosophy will fail? How can it but succeed, when too, it has such allies as those inestimable virtues, Forbearance, Charity and Love? A trio that can bid defiance to Despair, come as it may. Why were such powers given man, if not to brighten his life, guard his happiness? Why can other passions be governed, their existence almost forgotten, and this one, this yielding to melancholy and sorrow, always reign supreme and in its supremacy bury our noble virtues. Who that reflects a moment will recognize it as the predominant principle of a true nature? Thus far we have only regarded human power, our own capacity for subduing one of our greatest enemies. But should all our philosophy fail, our efforts prove unavailing; [page 3] does there not yet remain one hope of victory to us? Will God, who formed man in His own image and endowed him with principles and virtues, the preservation and culture of which, will render him happy, we ask will He forsake his creatures in the hour of trial, when the cunning serpent would coil itself around their hearts and at each pulsation sink deeper its deadly poison? True, man may and does forget his Maker; may yield to the wiles of the Tempter and thus allow his noble traits and virtues to sink into obscurity. And then what does he reap? The reward of his own actions. Then is his peace gone -- his happiness lost. Then do sorrow's billows rise and with each ebb and flow seem to carry some of life, all of hope. Then does grim Despair hold high Carnival. What can be done? Is there no return to purity, no balm for the bleeding wound? Ah! yes, there is. Then must the troubled heart, whose frail barque is shattered, fast sinking beneath the boisterous wave, turn in repentance and humility to an offended, but gracious God. And does it turn in vain? Who will say it does? For soon again the sea is calm, the foe is gone and once more true nature is triumphant. [page 4] 'Tis but natural for every one to magnify his sorrows and deem his own paramount to those of all others. Here, Imagination has great sway; then why not let bright images appear, rather than the dark pictures of sorrow's dream? Our lives are what we make them. The earth is full of beauty, if we would but see it; would turn from gazing on the angry cloud and look beyond to see the "silver lining". "Night brings out the stars". So, in sorrow's deepest gloom may arise the brightest, holiest thoughts leading us on to happiness that may never have been ours, but for the darkness that revealed it to see. When there is so much of Joy and Love to glean -- so many flowers to cull among life's thorns, why not let them all be ours, forgetting that our hearts could ever be sorrowful". Par ma cousine. [French "by my cousin"]
Collection Title	Daniel Williams family papers

Digital ID#	20-234-p01.jpg
Physical ID	20-
Original Collection	Williams (Daniel) Papers
Publisher	Mississippi State University Libraries (electronic version).
Rights	Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.
Format (digital)	200 dpi jpeg image
Repository	Manuscripts Division, Special Collections Department, Mississippi State University Libraries.
Location of Original	Daniel Williams Papers/Folder 20
Related materials	A digitization project sponsored by the Consortium for the History of Agricultural and Rural Mississippi (CHARM).
Language	en
Contact information	For more information send email to sp_coll@library.msstate.edu or call 662-325-7679.
Transcript	Why should our hearts be sorrowful? "Though man was born to trouble, though in the human heart is implanted a feeling of despondency and repining, yet in the same nature there is energy sufficient, there is a current of opposing passions strong enough to counteract this innate, mournful influence. True, it requires great philosophy of mind, great forbearance, and a spirit of generosity and charity to accomplish this task, so Herculean. And 'tis almost equally as true, that these victorious weapons, these sterling qualities are seldom found combined in one nature; that is, are not perceived as having power and exercising it; and the effort to arouse these dormant energies (possessed by everyone) is almost as great task as to conquer this baneful influence to which reference has been made. Indeed, where these counteracting energies or emotions are fully awakened, brought into action, immediately their power is acknowledged and the real nature of the former tyrant, (tyrant made so, by our own weakness and imagination) is seen, as it lies writhing beneath the conqueror's feet. Why did we yield to this tyrant? Why heed its voice, when it whispered only of sorrow and anguish?

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