The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1872-02-07
DON'T HIT HIN WHEN HE rs
DOWN


MEssRs EDlToRs There Is an old es-
tatlishcd regulation amongst the Irish peo-
pie when they happen to getinto one. oftheir
free fights, which is, that when one Of
them gives another tap over the head,
with bis shillalah, which brings him to the
ground, not to strike him until he rises 10
4 perpendicular and is in due form to take
another knock down. | have often thought
of this custom and compared it with the u
sage which prevails to such an extent among
rs; warm-hearted, chivalric Southerners
that we are.
TIA sman is man for a. that. as the
Scotch bard 50 forcibly expresses it, why do
we not give him a mans chance? Whatif
he is downtown IN money--down in cha
racter---down in credit--down in his own
self respect--down in all that makes life
desirable or even bearable; in charity's
name let us not hit him when he il down.
There is an old saying, and / dare say
many Of your readers can youch for its
truthfulness. that if man starts down Hill
every body is ready to give hima push W.
just let poor fellow get little behind
hand. and every body, and every body's
cousin, are, Shylock like. after their pound
Of flesh; it matters not that be is trying TO
/ find sketch, to stop him in his downward
course, pay me what thou owest IL must
will have it II matters not that help
less wife and dependent little ones, may
suffer for the hare necessities Of life, the
last dollar must comel What is it to any
one, that poor fellow is down? Is itany
body's business give him q kick and pass
on But the Irish custom ought to pre-
vail, don't. oh don't. hit him when he is
down,
Sometimes real good meaning and real
| ly deserving young man may. form habits
of intemperance, and become an habitual
drunkafd; his old friends pass him by with
a sneer Or slight, instead Of lifting him
up, and putting him in position for fair
light, By their cutting unkindness they hit
him when he is down.
A party Of friends may meet and some
tale Of scandal or reproach be circulated a.
mongst them about some absent one, and
rot one will have the manliness to defend
his good name, or speak word in his "a
yor; this is what | call. hitting him when
be Is down.
This habit is not confined alone to iDdi-
yiduals; it extends to towns and eommu-
mites. When one town or community is
prospering. lperhaFs above its deserts) how
apt is it. in its yaunting pride. to east a
slur at its less prosperous neighbour, or in
other words TO hit it when it is down.
! It is wrong in this changing world. to be
hitting everything that is down. For
tune wheel is continually turning--the..top
spoke Of to-day may be the bottom one Of
to- morrow. The busy throng of mankind.
have often reminded me Of pot Of water
put over FIRE. as the heat begins to affect
the bottom drops. they immediately rise to
the surface. while the colder ones on top
sink to the bottom-just 50 is it with us.
some Of us are at the bottom. undergoing a
heating process. perhaps being refined, and
fitted for more exalted station away up
above US, we can perceive others basking
and glittering, in the glorious light aud
sunshine, looking beautiful and happy af-
ter awhile our refining is completed and up
we 60, while down 60 those who looked 80
bright but moment ago; but when they
are down, away down at the bottom, we
should tread lightly and not hit them when
they are down.
We are never 50 high up on fortunes lad
der but that We may be reached by sdyer-
sity--neyer 50 rich but that we may become
poor--neyer so happy but that we may be-
come miserable--neyer so beautiful but that
we may become homely--never 50 :ntelli-
gent but that we may become imbecile-
never 50 envied but that we may become
despised--neyer so distinguished but that
Wa may be forgotten--neyer 80 honored but
that We may be disgraced. All this being
true. how cautious ought we to be in ouI
conduct to othersl Surelylwe should never
hit any one when he is down.
Yours truly.
4 Hillsboro Feb. G. VIATOR.