---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Sarah E. Mitton
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 5
number: 8
published: 1902-06
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Sarah E. Mitton, "The Better Plan," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 8 (June 1902): 594.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0508unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera0508unse
start_page: 594
end_page: 594
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-06)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0508unse
  publication_year: 1902
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Better Plan

<!-- page:594 -->

694                    IMPROVEMENT ERA.                            ,




rolls on peacefully to the sea.    Most of the actors of those scenes
have passed to the great beyond, and those who still remain with
us have ceased their bitter animosities and perceive many noble
points in each other's characters.     The memories of the dead are
today kept green, and the living besirew the graves of the de-
parted with fragrant flowers!




                        THE BETTER PLAN.
                  (for the improvement era.)


             Stand not and gaze so longingly,
                On things you think most fair;
             For men are often caught with show,
                As moths are caught by glare.
             Of ttimes the face that looks so fair
               Is but a paltry sham;

             Just wait and view it when unmasked,
                Tis far the better plan.


             The hollow smiles that charm the gay,
               Are nothing more than show;
             For well-springs of true friendship lie,
               Deep in the heart, you know.
             The giddy laugh and empty word,
               Are traps for erring man.
             Choose thou the hand with friendship warm,
                'Tis far the better plan.



             Too oft do we the surface view,
               The ripple on the stream,
             And of the current never think,
                That flows beneath, unseen.
             Too oft we cast the good aside,
               In this our measured span,
             And wreck our bark of life by not
                Choosing the better plan.
                                                     Sarah E. Mitton.