Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-03

distinguish between the good and the
bad, in the application of this principle.
Emulation that seeks excellence and dis
tinction for their own sakes, and for the
advantages they bring to their possessor
is commendable. 1t implies strong de-
sire for superiority, but it has honor for
its basis and desire for greater useful
ness. Heuce, Dryden says with propriety,
GA noble emulation heats your breast"
But where competition degenerates
into rivalry, it engenders envy, resent
ment and detraction. and seeks only self
qualification. The former aims to mae7'-
1t success the latter is satisfied to OBJ
tain it. An appeal to this principle in
the family or school, usually awakens
only an envious and selfish ambition.
And hence, the offering of prizes to the
one who shall excel all others in given
task, is open to serious objections.
Such prize is not reward of merit,
but of success, which is often gained
through superior ability, or superior adj
vantages, and at the expense OF every
noble and generous feeling. This kind
of emulation may secure to one or two
of class, higher order of attainments,
but he gains it at the sacrifice of that
generous sympathy and true manhood
which are the only sure guarantee OF flu
ture success and usefulness. The many
who have made the greatest effort, and
are really more deserving, are wronged,
and the successful competitor is always
injured more than benefited by such
| promotion. Pride and selfishness under
such training soon becomes the ruling
passions of his heart Hence, l
would say to parents, let all prizes offer
ed to children be based upon real merit,
and let them be given to all the desery-
ing, instead of one.
| Again, selfishness sometimes degene-
crates into dishonesty, (which manifests
itself in the little business transactions
among children. A fovorite son, for
| instance, boasts that he has ''got the
| best end of the bargain, in exchanging
knives or pencils with his playmates;
and his doting father smiles approVingly
upon his success, and makrs this act of
shrewdness as evidence of special bust
ness talents. The boy has had the ex-
ample of his fathea and of his
fathers nefghbors, and has OBJ
served that 0Uer-4eGch6ng is the pre-
Vailing and almost universal habit OF
society, in the transactions of every day
life, and why may he not practice
sharpness and be commended for it ?
If strict honesty is the exception, and
petty fraud the common practice among
men, why may not their sons follow
their example, and learn the 0rtQf trade
thus early? Is it strange that we 50
often read of theft, and forgery, and
pecculations from government, and en-
bezzlements from bank and railroad cor
porations when so many of our youth
are trained in the school of seltishness,
from early childhood Whatever we
desire to have expressed in the nations
life, must be taught to our children,
both by example and precept And
what so important as strict integrity
and benevolence, in distinction from
dishonesty and selfshness But these
habits also must be formed under faith
full family training, if they are to APP
pear in practical life. They are based
upon the golden rule of christianity :;
''Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self :" and in thus loving and doing for
others, ''there is great reward"
PARENS
April, 1878.