The Portland daily press., 1869-05-21
- : 2
Miscellany
rhs Law of iAs Tonsae'
ny HENRY WARD BEEcHER.


What feast OF fat things is spread out in
society to all who enjoy talking about their
neighborsl ALI men are ridiculous in spots,
and some men are ridiculous all over. II one
enjoys the sight of moral weaknesses, and
has an eye for deformity, and tongue sharp
as q dissector's knife, he need not lack for
happiness. Every household is full of mat
ter for malicious fun. Every neighbor, every
friend, and the more intimate the better, has
a world of amusement in him, if only one
knows him to squeeze.
Men are always saying things which, ii laid
up, may be used upon them as whips. 1t
needs only sharp watch, and every man will
be found doing things inconsistent with his
former conduct, and for that matter, inconsis-
tent with his own avowed principles!
If man be gooa-Iatured, and unwilling to
see or report upon those thousand weakness
es, he loses great deal of satisfaction-such
as it isl Oh, it is so refreshing to stake off"
man behind his back to lower his back to
lower him in the sight of all his friends, by
bringing sharply inlo light the faults and fol-
bles Of which he is guiltyl The only pity is,
that men should ever be restrained in the lux
ury of such amiable work.
Unfortunately, one meets with prejudices
Society seems 10 have fallen into strait-aced
notions about the liberty Of criticizing faults.
1t is held TO be wrong to make private mat
tiers public. Ii this notion is to rule, some of
the richest sports of life will be untouched
and unused! What, not allowed to repeat
what one hears in private family? not use
what we chance to overhear? not allowed to
repeat confidential conversations? not per-
mitted to publish private letters? By such
rigid notions Of honor and right, ones liberty
OF enjoyment is greatly restrained!
Then, also, it is deemed dishonorable for
man to assail friend. Why not? Friend
ship promotes intimate acquaintance, and ac-
curate knowledge of human nature. Where
else can one find such minute studies OF the
human heart, as in the hours OF commence
when friend opens his most secret thoughts?
Goethe used his dearest friends and friend
ships as materials for the drama. Why
should not men copy his example?
1t is still further forbidden us to njuIe
men by exposing their faults and errors
when they are on our side. The world seems
to have been superstitious on this subject
There have been ungainly proverbs, such as
"It's an III bird that fouls its own nest" and
such like sayings. all founded on this notion
OF honor toward ones party.
But, as If all this interference with the lib
erty OF malicious wit were not enough, men
thrust the Bible in our face, and declare that,
upon its testimony, it is wrong to have good
time over mems sins, and to enjoy their in
EQUITIES. There is to be found somewhere or
other in that Book-so it is said-that chari-
ty s'rejoiceth not in iniquity," "d1d thinketh
eyiL" Indeed, away back in the Old Tesla
ment, hundreds and hundreds OF years ago,
1t is said, "L0ve copereth all SINS and there
is an echo Of the same in the New Tesla
ment; 4Charity shall coper the multitude of
SINS" Even more embarrassing to the natu-
raj liberty OF the tongue is the sentence, "He
that c0uereth a transgression, seeketh loUe;
but ne that repeGteth matter, sepdrGteth
Uery friends" IT these notions are to rule,
pray how are we to enjoy ourselves over a
dish OF tea, discussing our neighbors' faults
And still further, it has been laid down by
learned and good men, and by many it is still
believed to be true, that we have no right to
speak evil at any man, or to report any harm
OF him, no matter hon true the report mag be,
unless we have a just and benevolent end in
UaeaCl 1t is taught us, that we cannot justify
ourselves for talking evil of neighbors, by
showing that we "only speak the iruthw We
have no right to make any man uncomforta-
BILE, or to make him to appear ridiculous in
other mems eyes, or diminish his influence,
or impair the respect of the community to-
ward him, or in any manner harm his good
name, by reporting true things even, about
him. in short, it is held by many thatsChris-
tianity requires us to do good to men,
to make them happy, to conceal their
faults, to publish their excellences, to rejoice
in their prosperity and to sympathize In their
troubles, and, in all things, to treat them as
we should, in like circumstances, desire our
selves to be treated.
Il this is the right doctrine, two things are
tebe said:
1. That there are very few men who have
become Christian in their tongues, and,
q That there was never time when the
gospel of an honorable and Christian tongue
more needed to be preached.-N 7. Led0er