The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-05-07

CustOdianship Of OthorS' Cnsr1'
In addition to that true responaDln-
ty for others-resp0nsibility on tne PaI'
Of parent, teacher, brother, frleno: em-
ployer, fellow-worker-which as umes
must rest upon every member OF nu-
man society, there is also laid upon ev-
cry man duty not so much TOR others
as to others. We must stand in q rep
resentative and responsible position, not
only as substitutes for, or leaders OF.
those with whom we have to DO, Dut
also as the medium by which their char
acters are presented to those who know
them only through US. Great and re-
sponsible as is our duty to our fellows
in the matter of our influence upon
them and our necessary assumption OF
responsibility for their acts, our duty
does not end here. 1t also includes the
constant obligation to make right
presentation of their character ana
their work, and to extend their good
influences by our own offices OF Ju-
dicious friendship, instead of harming
their reputation and limiting or Destroy
ing their labors by our own folly or wick
edness.
An English essayist says, in writing
of the worlds greatest composer: 1T
is, perhaps, one noteworthy evidence OF
the inherent greatness end stability OF
Beethoven's genius, that even his adj
mirers have not been able to write him
down." How great is the injury done
to eminent men, in every department OF
labor, by ill-advised and extravaganza
eulogy, every student of history and
biography well knows. Worthless
characters, to be sure, have for time
been "'written up" but such artificial
fame is less lasting than the real mis-
chief brought upon the reputation OF
true heroes, and artists, and authors, by
those who have overburdened them
with indiscreet praise. The general
rectitude of the motives of extravagant
adulatOrs does not save their work from
the mischievous results which surely
follow it in the minds of disguised
public of readers. In effect, though
possibly not always in morals, the ulti-
mate results of the most sincere praise,
if it lacks the needed elements of dis
erection, and right thinking, and sound
mental regimen, may not be different
from those of malicious detraction.
Indeed, they are sometimes worse, for
a good character can rally from mean
hostility more readily than from sicken-
ing praise.
But our duty, as custOdians of the
character of others, in our presentation
of their dispositions and dOings, is by
no means chiefly confined to our treat
ment of the great men of the world.
To present false or unwise picture of
a man of established reputation is a
slow and difficult process; to present
such a picture of one of our equals, or
of an ordinary social acquaintance, is a
speedy and easily-accomplished act.
Daily and hourly, by our words and
manner, we are called on to bear testi-
mony to others of those known to us,
and unknown, or partially known, to
them. If that testimony is in the line
of silly and unmerited praise, or hasty
and unjust criticism, or one-sided and
ignorant information, we may by it
greatly, and perhaps permanently, in
jure the reputation and the moral use
fulness of those of whom we speak
amiss. The harm that we can do in
the one direction of laying false empha-
sis-perhaps unwittingly--upon some
particular deed, or word, or phase Of
character, may be as hurtful as though
we had lied outright and set about 70
wreak malicious vengeance upon those
whom we profess to honor. Could we
always remember that when we speak
of one person to another, Ve are, to
the extent of our words, thecustodian
of his character, and that we have no
right to speak save in obedience to
large laws of truth and justice and
charity. the number of wounds-nay, of
positive murders-of character would
be far smaller than it is now.-S. s.