The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-09-02
Smith


was composed Of men, women and Smiths. Not
being a person BY the name OF Smith myself,
and not having any friends 10y that name. Lady
MSry's nomenclature comes TO me as very
happy in my need Of an appropriate designa-
tion for 4 species Of creature very much 10 the
way Of every good cause undertaken by church,
state, or society.
Everybody knows tbe Smiths, even the
Smiths themselves Though the Smiths are not
anybody Any pastor who reads my words
can call up to minds eye row, long or short,
of these nonentical entities. They are never
lacking from the ranks Of any good cause, &C.
eiesiastic or secular. They tall in numerously
when the cause IS popular and full out when
It is unpopular. Their oharacterlessness gives
them character. Their iudistinctness is always
indistinct and their impredicability Of position
us always to be predicated As species they
are sui gcgsriS and may be very precisely
classified as the nobodies of the cause.
Now men and women do not want Smiths
around, but Smiths are especially qualified 10
fulfill this one function Of being around. 1t is
their peculiar sphere Of activity. They are
gifted with deviation, as opposed to gravity.
They arc like certain Of those encountered by
Dahte-though they cannot be encountered
in the ''Inferuo;" very definite 10 the eye, but
wholly impalpable to the touch. You can see
tween you and the light, but you can walk
right through them. Like Millions Michael in
his fray with Satan, you can get up close, and,
careful 10 cut nothing else, slash right through
them with that sword ''no solid might resist
and, after all, cut nothing! There Is not drop
OF blood to be spilled. They
Caurot but BY humiliation. die;
Nor in their LIQUID texture mortal wound
Receive, more than can the liquid air.
These elusive Smiths come to be well known
after while, and nothing whatever is TO be
expected Of them. They are wholly useless to
any cause, and save for the sad persistence Of
that inexorable law by which no such thing as
moral neutrality is possible in Gods universe,
would be wholly harmless as well. But, be-
cause this law persists-bscause 'he that is
not for me is against me'-therefore It is that
these useless shadows on the right side become
with no change Of base. useful substances on
the wrong side.
THE ONLY TREATMENT.
There is nothing good friend Of these iyasS
ftlvi Smiths can, as friend do for them, but
10 cut them off from the ranks Of fighting men
and women. and remand them tC an abstract
space, where they may hubble with their own.
Give them space for repentance, the "beueft
of clergy" and then swing them from the pill
lory OF the worlds high scorn, to mix hereafter
to their blo0dless hearts COnteut, with their
elemental kindred in the thin air Of moral non
commitment Give them only Just time for
repentance. Do not delude yourself with any
hope that. having repented, they will be any
thing 10 the cause they have so long clogged
The first Whit Of influence from any quarter will
blow them from that place they have sought
carefully and with tears. Do not deem it wise
or kind to give them another chance" The
only wisdom for the cause they disgrace, the
only kindness 10 them; Is to hurry them away
JsRa7y FROM any contact with anything what
ever. These people are too ETHEREAL for this
world They arc ike certain dazzling Crea-
tures who swing from nodding blossoms on a
summers day, held III this sunny oscillation
by the power OF suction. We never see their
feet, if they have any. It Is their nature to
not stand, but swing. Milton says they can
not, but by humiliation, die; but they can be
ignored out Of moral existence as impedimeuis
to 4 good cause Ard they should be. In the
stress and strain Of the battle we are set to
wage with "real folk" we are not called to
fight, like Tounyson's prince, with shadows.
We have seen something Of melted Smiths
lately outside Of France. But We would not
take the time Cf The police for their search.
An ordinary pointer would do as well; the
smell OF SULPHUR would he sufficient suggestion
as to their Whereabouts.
l. tLc4es tne-s ~ AOtI lvA eis 2u4tLa. 1
leave that question open. Probably some one
knows, if lie has a mind 10 tell For my own
small part l have very little hope Of Smiths.
Experience has made me sad aud wise about
them. Turncoats are always turHcoats.
person who persists 10 never knowing his own
mind either wishes never to know it, or else
has none to know. If 4 person rever is known
10 hold his ground, you must conclude he has
no legs for his ground, OF no ground for his
legs. And the practical import in either case
is the same. II is my advice 10 men and wo-
men not to bother with Smiths Do not see
them They are optical delusious. The sleep
ing and the dead and the Smiths arc but as
pictures
P S.-Are you Smith by name? Do not be
offended, for If a pathological Smith, you will