Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-02-28

! dwelt in our thoughts and led us to examine more
closely than we ever had before, into the nature
of the vice which had caused it. We could but
reflect that if the malignity and evil effects oil
slander were better understood it certainly would
not be general. For almost universal it truly
is! 1t pervades all ranks and classes, all are
equally guilty of it. How many there are whose
gently modulated tones and silvery accents are
employed in lisping confdentally,' the un-
founded calumnies of town-gossip. How often,
the same pious soul, that in the Temple of God
on holy Sabbath morning, engaged in earnest
and humble entreaty to the God of all charity,
saying:
Though speak with the tongues of men and
of angels, and have not charity, | am become as
sounding brass tinkling cymbal. And though
l have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though have
all faith, so that could remove mountains, and
have not charity, l am nothing. And though |
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though
give my body to be burned, and have not chari-
ty, it profteth me nothing Charity suffereth
long and is kind; charity envieth not charity
vaunteth not itself, is not pulled up, doth not be-
have itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh evil rejoiceth not in
iniquity. but reioceth in the truth. Beareth all
things, beleveth all things, hopeth all things,
dureth all things. Charity never faileth. - Yet
almost before the sound of the benedcton has
died in their ears, are heard distonoring the
church and profaning the day, by unkind, if not
envous or malicious remarks.
The universally of this vice, proceeds from a
want of self-examination-an ignorance of the
philosophy taught by shrewd old Greek, and
embodied in those two cabalistic words, g Know
thyself We remember noticing in an article
written by Addison, test by which may dis
cover whether we are guilty of this evil habit,
and which we thought contained much of the es-
sence of true wisdom. The first was, to ask our
selves the question, whether we were not pleased
in hearing of the faults of others. The next,
whether we were not more disposed to believe
evil reports than good and third, wheth-r I we
were not inclined to propagate them.
The secret delight in another's tailngs, takes
its rise in envious disposition, trait OF mind Of
all others the best calculated to make one wretch
ed, for it is liable at any moment to be excited by
its cause.-The virtues and amiabties of mankind
1t is said that Bion, witty Greek philosopher,
asked an envious man who was very sad, ''what
harm had befallen him what good had befaen
unto another man ?" Strange and unfortunate
passion Those occurrences which give to others
the most pleasure, are the cause OF most pain to
the enyious-their life is pardoxical--hating man
kind because they approve them ! their only plea
another's pain
Sheenstone remarks, that we may very safely fix
our esteem on those whom we hear some people
deprcate- that good test of an authors
merit is the discomfort he occasions this class Of
persons. Indeed, history furnishes us with many
examples of the truth, that SANDER, like death,
- loves a shining mark. 3" Unhappy are those
whose conscences do not acquit of this fatal inhe
renee of evil-for they bear in their own bosoms
their worst enemies, and the labor of expelling
them must be long and severe.
The experience of every day proves that man
kind are much more disposed to lend listening
ear to evil than to good report. Many melanchol-
" instances might be cited in evidence of 1.-THE
blasted hopes of many young life would attest
it. How much authority do we require to prove
good deeds vet what ready confidence we place
in the darkest nsinuations Of the most contempu-
bic slandcrer We think that the author of the
Spectator was not far wrong when be said that
this readiness TO believe evil of others, takes its
rise in g consciousness of our own corruption. 4"
How different from this, the generous glow that
suffuses the cheek-the tear that dms the eye
the quick throb of the breast, when noble and dis
interested deeds are related ! How different the
sunny temper, which, incapable of suspicion or
deceit, throws all that comes within its infu
ence, its own ''coleur de rose!" How different,
4" The heart all lit with love-
Teaching the deeds of the worlds glory
rejoicing in its Joy and sorrowing in its SORROW
the all-pervading, all-embracing sympathy, which
stirs the feeling within US, that
:" Man hath one great heart.
Happy, supremey happy is he, who, conscious
of recdtude, may bear with patience, the Ills he
cannot cure-who like the camel of the desert,
carries within him this never failing fount where
with to refresh him, during his weary pilgrimage
on earth Nothing can compensate him for the
loss of it--without it, even honors and emolu-
ments bring with them sting, and
s'Not trapping decks his power,
That gals not, while it glitters,'
for they are embittered by the recollection that
they owe their exstence-not to his merit, but to
his hypocracy, and the success of the frauds he
has practised on mankind.
Possessing it, he can 60 forth into the world
with g heart for every fate ''-prepared to meet
alike its sunnest smiles and darkest frowns-to
bear with forttude its saddest reverses-to battle
bravely with its fercest storms and accept with
modesty and dignity, its highest honors.
TARA.
Correspondence Of the Mercury.
WASHINGTON, February /.