The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-02-21
uas,,uai Fault Finder..


We once heard of family who spent
their summer evenings st the front door,
making remarks about people who
passed. The spirit of criticism and Cos
sip so laid hold of them that when win>
ter came they could hardly stay away
from the parlor windows, and usually
posted one of their children to report
when anyone was coming. The signal
brought the mother and daughter away
from the midst OF pressing care. Brooms
were dropped, hands taken from the half
kneaded dough, dinners were allowed to
burn and babies to cry-everythin was
given up for the time being rather than
miss the sight of neighbor, aud know
for certainty how she walked and what
she had on. The disposition to do this
seemed to be a hereditary trait, which
was likely to grow stronger from the tact
/ that it was so assiduonsly cultivated.
/ The grandmother was reported to know
more about other peoples business than
anybody else, and the little ones of the
third generation, before they had reached
| the first decade of their years, had
| learned to look into windows, construct
stories out of limited material, and even
invent them without any foundation.
People werea little shy of the connection
and were careful how they spoke even
in the presence of the old lady's grand
children. Anything said by member
of that family WIS received with some
grains of allowance.
The mischievous girls of the town
amused themselves by watching this
propensity. They would divide them
selves into squads, one of which would
call, and allow the other to pass, t. see
what remark would be made. TLen
those who had passed would feturn and
stop, and allow the first party to leave,
affording an opportunity for criticism
upon them. Then there would be q
comparing Of notes, and a "call alto
gether," just to note how serene hypoc-
risy could be.
There was not, there could not be. any
confidence in those people. They were
insincere, and every body knew it. Even
the proffers of kindness they made in
cases of domestic af1iiction and distress
were Tot accepted, when it could be
helped for there was = constant dread
that the ssnctities of the sick-chamber
would be violated, and family affairs not
only exposed, but misconstrued and ex-
aggregated, 30 as to be productive Of
false and unpleasant impressions.
No one feels safe in the presence OF
such persons. Even though people may
never think OF believing what they say,
they are disturbing element in any
community, and every true person
breads them as the coils of viper, even
though the bite may have been rendered
harmless. Falsehood is loathsome and
relief is felt when men get away
from it.
1t is needless to say that such persons
are more open to criticism than anyone
else, and that the faults and foibles
they charge upon Others are the best
indicators of their own besetting sins
he philosophy of Phariseeism is as
patent now as it was in the days of our
Savior upon earth. Uncharitable re-
marks about the character or conduct of
Others, or even about their dress or taste
words often so unkind end woundine
might, in ninet y>nine cases out of
hundred, be applied with more Justice
to the person uttering them than
to those in regard to whom they are
uttered, and, as general thing, sensible.
observant people see this. The urchin
who laughs loudest at the paper pinned
TO TIE coat OF his companion, should
see to it that the bigger one on his own
back is not causing most merriment
There was wisdom in holding up the
mirror so that the basilisk could see its
own face.
Why people should delight in looking
upon the faults of others, even if real, is
a question that can be answered only on
the ground of perverted human nature, |
which is prone to hate its neighber but |
such persons help to add to the sorrows
of the world, end infict misery upon
themselves. The difficulty is one that |
concerns personal character The mans
own inward spirit, rather than the ioibles
of his fellows, is what is to be corrected,
and never was there a more necessary
prayer than, From all uneharitsble.
ness, good Lord, deliver US. - The Mes
senger.