The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-20
UabiiuaI Fault Finders.

UabiIuaI Fault Finders,
We once hesrd of family who spent
their summer evenings at the front door,
making remarks about people who
passed. The spirit of criticism and gos-
sip so laid hold of them that when wins
ter came they could hSrdly 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. BroODs
were dropped, hands taken from the half
knesded dough, dinners were allowed to
burn and babies TO cry-everything was
given up for the time being rather than
miss the sight of q neishbor, and know
for certainty how she walked and what
she had on. The disposition to do this
seemed to be & hereditary trait, which
was likely to grow stronger from the TACT
that it was so ,ssiduOnsly 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 wears, had
learned to look into windows, construct
stories out of limited material, snd even
invent them without any foundation.
People weres 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 a member
of that family was received with some
grains Of allowance.
The mi-chiev0us girls of the town
amu-ed themselves by watching THIS
propensity. Taey would divide them
selves into squsds, one OF which would
cali. and allow the other TO pass, t. SEE
what remark would be made. TLen
those who had psssed would ,eturn and
stop, and allow Me first party TO leave,
afiording an opportunity tor criticism
upon them. Then there would be a
comparing of notes, and q "c&ll alto
gether," Just to note how serene hypo,-
risy could be.
There VS.. not, there could not be. any
confidence in those people. They were
insincere, and everybody knew it. Even
the proffers of kindness they made in
cases of domestic SD jction and distress
were Lot accepted, when it could be
helped; for there was y constant dread
that the satellites of the sick chamber
would be violated, and family affairs not
only exrosed, but misconstrued ami eX-
aggregated, 70 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 mSy have been rendered
harmless. Falsehood i loathsome and
a 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 toibles
they charge upon Others are the best
indicators of their own besetting sins
The philosophy of Phariseeism is as
patent now as it was in the days of our
Savior upon earth Unchsritsble re-
marks about the character or conduct of
Others. or even about their dress or taste
words often so unkind sRd wounding
might, in pinety>nine cases out of
hundred, be applied with more justice
to the person urtering them than
to those in regard II whom they are
uttered, and, a. general thing, sensible,
observant people see this. The urchin
who laughs loudest at the paper pinned
to the coat of his companion, should
see to it that the bigger one on his own
back is not causing most merriment.
There WA wisdom in holding up the
mirror so that the bssilisk could SEE its
own tsce.
WAY people should delight in looking
upon the faults OF others, even if real, j.
a question that can be answered only on
the ground of perverted human nature,
which is prone to hste its neighbor; but
such persons help to sdd to the sorrows
of the world, snd infict misery upon
themselves. The difficulty is one that
concerns personal character The mans
own inward spirit, rather than the foibles
of his fellows, is what is to be corrected,
and never was there more necessary
PRAYER than. "From all uncharitsble>
ness, good Lord, deliver us. y The Mes
senger.
A Cheerful Heart.