The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-01-21

them t" do what their good sense fnrhihs.
1t draws tight the chains of convention
atty and STILES the breath of new or adj
vanced thought. 1t poisons friendship
/ and affection and witherS up some of the
best feelings of the human heart. 1t
! fills weak minds with shame at what
should be their glory. and strong ones
with sorrow at the hurt that conscience
! thus receives.
IF We inquire into the things which are
usually sneered at, we shalt find them to
be mostly such as straight forward sin
certify and honest duty would commend.
One of the most common of these is the
practice Of economy. Not the pinchinss
that extreme poverty imposes. but the
frngality that ensures honesty and free
dom from recunary care, is the theme of
many th"ughtleSs and hanefu sneer.
Whatever be the income. or the hahitnal
SNle OF living, there is always a tempta-
ton to over>tep its bonndS aud this is
what SO often brings grief and ruin in it's
train. Yet the prudent man. and still
oltener the prudent woman. who resists
this temptation is frequently the victim
of cruel sneer by the members of IA set
"r clique. last years costume. faded
carpet, Il less luxurious banquet than
usual, smaller donation than is expect
ed. a retrenchment in business expenses,
or any other piece of economy. however
need?ul. is sufficient to call forth the con-
temptuous shrug that saws So little but
that means S" much. The dr. AL of this
scnrnful hislain is what draws multitu,l-s
OF people into expenses that they cannot
afford, brings upon them countless miser-
les from which they m find no escape,
and sometimes even plunges them int"
the still deeper slough of dishonesty and
crime.
Economy however is not the only viz |
tue that is sapprd bv the drrisive sneer
Har lily any good and sterling quality es-
capcS its venom. IL does not attack the |
strong who are firm in principle aud as,
sureh in character. but sends its shafts
into the weak. the w.lveriny. the tempted. |
The boy who is obedient to his m ,ther.
and loval tn his teacher. or punctiliously |
truthful in word and deed, NAV have these
virtues put to Il crucial test by the scoll |
aud ieer of an unscrupulous play fellow.
The young man who begins life with al
earnest resolution to be faithful to hi !
employer. and true to his conscience, will
meet with many a laugh of ridicule fni
his so called StrictneSs from companions
who have no such aspirations. The pnnI
victim of intemperance. trying hard t.
resist the fatal cup. has more than hi
own appetite to battle with: he must als,
brave the gibeS and filings of his late boon |
companions. Every effort to turn from,
any vice, or to break up any evil habi..
is thus hampered. and not nnfregueutl |
defeated b. the taunts and sneers OF thos |
who are left behind.
Opinions and beliefs of every kind and |
on every subject are often treated with - |
sheer by those who do not share them OF |
cannot fathom them. 1t is not necessar,
that they be proved untrue or injurious:
it is sufficient that they are out of the |
range of ordinary thinking or that the, |
are held by an antagonistc party, sect ~
clique to doom them to this petty persr.
cution. Mr.. Barratt. and English writer |
-peaking OF this kind of ridicule, says:
= 1t is very Dame Quickly of argu.
ments. neither fish. flesh nor fowl: q |
man knows not where to have it, If h, |
thinks he has seized it in vital ONT, | |
slidrs itnperceptibly like PIoteus, from
his grasp. and mncks him in an at re, |
shape. And even at last. when forced t. |
reveal itself in its true nature, a new dit |
iculty arises. for how can argument avai' |
against an opponent that refuses to argue: |
How can reasoning cause conviction whel
its very authority is denied? We canuu,
contute a 81 e +. because 1t has not sens,
enough to be conIuted. We may strike
1t 1t with all our might, but our swnr'
passes through empty air. and our OPP
pouehI 'dhlSneS Ill the Hash Oh an cpl
gram
There is. indeed. 70 defence that can
with any reason. he set up for this prac
tlce; 10 g 'od ling that Can even be sup
pn>ed to come ont of it, 1t is WORTHLESS;
when employed against what is evil. ana
much worse than worthless when employ
ed. as it usually is, against good habit.
md right conduct. Let us guard again>r
It's first approach and beware Of its insid-
lous influence.