Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-21
The WAY Of Tcu,ptatian.

Every uaN AOHk some new Hdiilc W t-t
sad record Of those who have betrayed the
trust confded 10 them; and stolen the
property they should have defended. Now
IL Is bank officer that has appropriated
the funds Of the institution whose manage
ment was left 10 his hdelity, aud the d.
rectors, stockholders, and Indignant depos-
itors stare at the wreck, and wonder how
any one could be so lost to decent self
respect as TO commit such crime.
Then book-kceper or confidential
clerk yanishes from counting-house,
leaving an empty cash box and mutt.
lated ledger, and his employers are amazed
Mt his lapse from the path OF virtue. Anon,
a lawyer who has had charge OF an estate
Is missing from bis Office, and II is found
that he las converted the securities in his
hands and sqliandered the fortune he was
APPOINTED TO protect. Aud we have sue
cession Of ofiice-holders, and agents, and
trustees, and even messeDger-bOys. who
have fed from the post OF duty with un.
clean hands, taking with them the spells OF
their thefts. or running away to escape the
consequences OF their dishonest waste.
Not one Of these deiaulters, rs far e. we
know or can learn, secured the opportunity
for the sake Of its advantages, and With the
intent Of bctrnying the trust reposed in
outset, and they only Yielded 10 temptation
when il appealed 10 their ruling passion
with n strength they were not disposed 10
resist. And even when they took the first
step in the downward course they did not
intend 10 follow it 10 the bitter consumms-
ton. They only designed 10 give them
selves start in The way OF money-getting,
or 10 relieve some pressing emergency, and,
as soon as possible, TO replace the stolen
funds or securities, with no one but them
selves the wiser for their wrong-doinR.
Some were tempted 10y seeming 0pp0r-
tunity TO initiate the wealthy, whom they
epyied, in a trial OF the wheel OF fortune.
These had specuated IN stocks, or produce,
or real estate, or mines. or patents. and had
laid up millions: why should not they too
fill their Golfers with money wruDg from
the public credulity? All that was needed
was little capital for the first successful
adventure. after which their own shrewd-
ness might be relied on to keep and re-
double the acciuing gains.
They were not robbers in thought, but
borrowers-fully intending TO restore the
coveted capital surreptit 'ously appropriated
as soon a. they had bridged over by its
means the gulf between them and the fair
fields that Law so invtlngiy beyond. We
have no doubt that few. perhaps many,
stll trusted and bonored, have taken that
first step-haye been through all the agony
that followed such dishonesty, and have
been enabled 10 replace the stolen
funds without discovery. But IT has
left a sting in their memory which no
after repentance can wholly blunt. With
most, however, the venture was unsuccess.
iul. Then they had double motive fore
peatiug il. since seli-protect;on became al
lied to the greed Of gain. and they must
hazard another cast OF the die. They grew
more desperate with each defeat, aud finally
became so reckless that their failure was in
ovitable and their exposure only question
OF time.
To some the temptation comes through
self.indulgence. Their legitimate income
Is too limited for their desires. They see
great numbers about them indulglng IN
costly clothing. eQuipages, table Injuries,
travel, and = genera. course OF stylish liv-
ing, and they have not the heart to resist.
Perhaps il is wife who has a taste for
costly things, or a growing family all eager
for life Of pleasure, and the head OF the
household. who might be willing 10 live
plainly himself, cannot practice that hardest
self-denial, the refusal OF pleading voices at
his own tiresi0e.
The indulgence involves him in debt,
and Satan has no device for leading men
estray that will match the pressure of an
obligation they have no means to satisfy.
Then the temptation comes 10 appropriate
from the funds within reach enough to dis
charge The debt, hoping that future hour
for saving will enable the borrower to re-
place il; or 10 use such means to coax from
tickle fortune n gain that will not come
from legitimate employment. After the
first step the next is e1sier, although many
will often travel long way on this danger
Gus road before they admit to themselves
that they have gone beyond recovery. We
need not depict the horror that besets such
path. nor describe the impending ruin
that certainly lies across IT,.
| IL Is easier to point out the way iempta-
ton than it Is to avoid 1t. The greed OF
| gain is in the blood. and the rugged bill OF
| seli-dsnial Is hard climbing for weary feet,
| To be content with such things as we have (;
| TO live plainly within our means; to post
pone purchase or a coveted pleasure until
we have earned the money TO pay for it
! these are on the right road, but ii is not
| easy going. TO set ones face as a flint
| against the temptation 10 gsmble-this, by
| whatever other name IL i called, being only
an effort to take the property Of another
without giving him any return for IL is
often the hardest task of life.
Christianity and heather philosophy are
alike In this. that they depict the decline
| from virtue as at first IN easy way, full OF
| plausible allurements, but ending anna the
crashing thunderbolts, while labor and
sore struggle and patient self-denial. weary
feet aud aching sinews mark the upward
path whose end alone is peace.