Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-22

isv. Psgsnism itself has been charmed
v;th the beauty and wholesomeness Of
The doctrines therein set forth, and thus
The universal conscience Of man has sp-
proved the grand ideal.
But our object in this article is to
csll special attention TO single para.
orsph of this sublime code, which seems
Of late to have dropped more than ever
ont of sight. Whether it is taken as
single precept, or as q summary OF all
that can be said of mans duty to his
fellows, 1t is worthy Of being written in
letters Of gold upon the walls Of every
house, and engraved as the tables Of the
law were Of old with the finger ofGod"
on every human heart. 1t reads:
Therefore all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, doye
even so to them" 1t is so simple that
a child can understand it; but 1t is so
comprehensive in its scope that the
Great Teacher was justified in adding,
/" for this is the law and the prophets"
II is indeed an epitome of all that can
be taught concerning human relations.
Whether the race is more selfish in
hot weather, or men accept the mid
summer term as boldly season during
which they may rest not only from
work, but also from obedience, we can
not say, but the golden 'rule we have
quoted seems to be less observed during
the heated term than in any other part
of the year. Our table is covered with
complaints from the victims Of human
selfishness, and our own experience
bears testimony to the prevailing disre-
gard of the recruitment whose para
mount authority is so universally con-
ceded by all classes of men.
A distracted citizen, who signs him
self " Almost Crazy" is q tenant in
one of these modern nuisances, an
apartment house." wherein dwells a
family totally oblivious Of the divine
precept. These people own a piano,
or have one on hire, and the keys Of the
instrument seldom have a moments re-
spite until after midnight. He cannot
sleep; he has lost his appetite, and he
doubtless represents q dozen fami-
lies who are nightly subjected to a
similar annoyance. Even if the piano.
player hires her instrument by the
year, and is determined to get the worth
of her money out of it, she ought to
remember that she is not alone in the
world. Her apartments are not a
lodge in some vast wilderness" where
even Bedlam might be let loose without
infringing the code. She is subject to
the morals that govern one who dwells
in the midst Of crowd, most Of whom
desire peace and repose after Q O'Clock
at night. She cannot annoy others with
out facing the condemning eye Of Him
who gave for her guidance the golden
rule.
Another correspondent has neigh
Dor who keeps coop Of chickens in
bis backyard, and all the latter part Of
the night the "cock that crows in the
morn" announces himself almost con-
tinuously to the surrounding families.
Some have sick children, who are rest
less and peevish, requiring all the
parents patience and care, and this
shrill clarion goes like a sharp
knife through every nerve. One
Of our most valued friends
writes that he has little place for the
summer in the country, and the neigh.
Dor on one side has hens and chickens
and on the other a dog is kept. Be-
tween the two, against which he has no
sufficient protection, he has no garden,
no safety for his children, and no rural
felicity, such as he hoped for in the
quiet Of an inland town.
A pile Of letters still remains to be
noticed, but we cannot refer to them in
detail. A wife is neglected and i'll |
treated by a husband who is not inten-
tionally cruel, but is thoughtless and |
selfish. She cannot get a divorce, or
even legal separation in this State
perhaps il she broods less over her own
griefs, and seeks to make herself part
Of his life las she would wish if she was
in his place. he may be won to better
mind. 1t looks to us as if both now
evidently "twain " would be likelier to |
become Zone flesh " if each would live |
up to the golden precept.
From the watering. places, from the
springs, from the mountain retreats,
rom private boarding. houses IN rural
comes the same sad wall over
The general disregard Of the quoted
rule. The variety is legion, but the
principle Of all is the same. 1t is the
Ielf-seeking for whatever seems most to
be desired at the moment, without re-
gard to the rights, the comfort, or the |
of others. 1t is the original
sin over. against which is the golden
sentence.
Let it be read again, and every reader
lake it afresh to his heart. Ii begins
with a word often unnoticed, but full Of |
Therefore " refers to the
reason for rebuking human selfshness.
This reason is set forth as revelation
Of the Great Fathers love for all MAJ
kind. If lie can look down on way
ward mortals, who by their miscon-
duct have forfeited all claim to His |
bounty, and still treat them as loved
and loving children, how much more
ought we to be cOnsiderste and full Of
kindness toward those whom
be thus commeuds to our regard.
- Therefore. all things whatsoever We
would that r1eu should do to you,
10 ye even so to them" What diff |
Terent world this would be if that was
The rule of every life
~ " =.