Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-09-20
The Praise of Knayes.

It Is hut annthar formal the prOyerl
to say that ne is measured by those who
praise him. To be warmly commended
by rascals, to be the model great man of
those whom everybody despiSes, is cruel
fate, because it is unerring judgment
The qualities that secure the admiration
of knaves are not the honorable qualities,
and every superlative of admiration
which scoundrel bestows upon another
man covers that man with suspicion.
When distinguished man showed his
friend letter Of the heartiest admira-
tion from one of the great men of his
time, his friend replied that he would
rather have that letter than a diploma
from the first university. And when a
graduating class of generous collegians
spontaneously cheers a professor as a
parting token of respect and regard, he
may well feel that he is pledged to still
greater devotion and diligence by the
confidence which ne has won from young
men.
In estimating men whose names only
are familiar it is necessary to know who
it is that extols them and who Sneers at
them. 1t is this knowledge which makes
honest public men absolutely impervious
to the shafts of the most venomous ridi-
cule, and unmindful of the heaviest mis-
sileS of abuse. The contempt of such
men battles the sneers of blackguardism
as the sun eXtinguishes the feeble flicker
of match. 1ndsed, there is nothing
more ludicrous than the constant
and elaborate vituperation which is some
times poured by newspaper or politician
upon an opponent who is as absolutely
unconscious of the inceSSSant assault as a
picture is needless of buzzing fiv. Or
out of sheer humanity toward suffering,
such man may so far reward the ardu-
Gus struggle of the harmless traducer as
to exclaim, good naturedly, .Shoo, fiv,
don't bother mel"
No man who takes part in public af.
fairs must be surprised or troubled to be
placarded, as it were, upon all the dead
walls as thief, d liar, a villain, dude or
a donkey. Where the press is free, ar
where elections are constantly occurri1,g
without great issues to be decided. and
nothing but personal considerations to
determine votes, such placarding is snre
TO occur. and there is nothing to do but
odo nothing. In the grave yard, as Ella
says In the familiar passage, to Judge from
the epItaphs, only good men seem to be
buried, so at an election. to Judge from
the newspapers, only bad men are to be
voted for. No Soener has the conyen-
tion decided that White, Black, or Green
shall be the candidate than it appears that
he Is the perSOnllication of all mean and
petty vices, and that his conduct in every
relation of life has been nefarious. He
lies and brlbeS and steals, and could the
truth he known it would undoubtedly ap-
peer that he Was the real murderer of the
babes IN the wood, and that his beard is
blue. But his art has succeeded in con-
ceailng his actual character hitherto. and
he has imposed himself for fifty years
upon his associates and friends and the
community at large as gOod-natured.
honest, industrious, public-spirited, and
clever man.
Nature, it is said, provides an antidote
against the poison of every venomous
snake, and in like manner she makes this
provision against false characters-that
they shall be praised by those whose ap-
plause is certain exposure. That applause
Is Nessus shirt. 1t is meant to decorate
and attract, but it tears away the skin |
and the life. Such praise is meant to
adorn and commend, but it leaves its vic
tim blasted with suspicion and scorn-l
The Easy Chair, in Harper's Magazine
for October.