The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-11-20

encouragement is one thing. nm
mere f"ttery is quite another. II
must he an arrogant egotist VIII
praises himself; and he who does il
simply dissnsts those who hear him
One must. indeed, be very dull VIII
cannot discriminate between honest en-
ronracement and false flattery. Hon
est praise is healthful mental stimu
liant, and makes one grow in the direc
ton of good resolutions and noble
deeds. There are those who neve
praise, but wl" often blame. Gan arr
miserable Sinners" utterly unwor,h,
la blessing. and who, if rigid iustic,
were done t" them, wonld he consirn
ed +" "eve'lasting puni>Ilmeut," an,
80 forth. This sort of 1O.matic theolo
gy grows ont of total deplavity teach.
ihgs, and casts gloomy shadows al
along the paths of life, driving not a
few into hopeless desponency, insanity
and even suiritle BIT better views are
now prevailing. and we no longer
cruelty each other for opinions sake.
or hang or burn human victims sus-
pectcd "f witchcraft, Quakerism,
Christianity, or Morm"nism.
''There is nothing better for a hn-
man being sometimes than little
'earty praise. Many good people cor
srIentl"u>Iy act on the directly orpo-
site, and seem t" think nothing better
than little hearty blame. Thev are
mistaken, he conscientious in their
blame as they may. There are sore
burdens enough in life, bitterness aud
pain enough, bard work enough and
little enough for it. enough to derress
a man and keep him humble, a keen
enough sense of failure, succeed us he
may; and wo Il of hearty c0mmcn-
'iation. now and then. will tighten his
lord and brighten his heart, and send
him on with new hope and energy,
and if he have any reasonable amount
Ut brains at all, will do him no harm.
"Chi!trtn are sometimes l.cartstarv-
ID for little hearty praise. Conscien-
ions teachers and parents refuse 1t on
principle. They are conscientious
"ols or their pains. Boys will act up
% the estimate pnt upon them, or at
east try to, it they are worth their
alt. A hearty word of commendation
= meat and drink to them for the next
ndeavOr.
at is so with men. The strongest
It ns can not work wit ont some re-
ocnition of our wcrk. We want to
now that it ia considered good. Oar
wn judgments are not ntfirient for us.
well done, now and then makes rs
ertain OF better doing still, in the fu-
IRE. r... t....
I'VE are not speaking Of the sillv
onsense Of flattery. We mean sensi.
lie, honest, hearty commentator, be-
anse n man deserves it. We mean
he showing that a mans good work is
Prrecia'ed, that the door is regarded
n the doin., and that other people
re happy in his doing, and want to
'etr him on 10 do more. 1t will not
nrt anybody, boy or man. To hold
back often does great harm, and in
cts on many a sensitive soul sore )
iln. For our own pant, we consider t
only an honest mans when lie sees c
'otl'er man doing good work, faithful d
nj hearty service, and doing it well, Il
SAY so; aud, it will help him at all q
his work, to say it to him freely and F"
'ar'ily. r
"Sihcere commentator ia the wine '
life. He who withh"lds it, hen lie y
II give it. is chnrl. He may be a 5
nns chnll, conscientious clurl. a II
u from the best motives, but he is a
nrl nevertheless" h
Let fathers and mothers praise their "
MS and daughters for worthy deeds, s.
Il they will try to merit contiuu- I"
&c OF their approval. Blame, scold,
d fault, or ignore their efforts, and II
pleasant consequences will follow. u
t husbands praise their wives, and III
yes their husbands, when they mer- IL
it,. aud keep their mouths inclining 81
Edrd ut the outer com, rs, 1t ia Il IL
nd thing to praise. st