The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-11-28
The Social s'COpper.Head.o

IellOW creature, tnu, DdrduOXlcal as IL may
seem, it is nevertheless true. In the every
day transactions of life man is uncertain
of the acts and intentions of his nearest
neighbor or co-laborer towards himself; and,
he often suffers detractiOn at the hands OF
those in whom he has placed his confidence
and in whom he would have every reason
to expect different feelings tow ards himself.
This is caused by that inordinate and con-.
temptibe desire for self advancement; and.
as rule. it is at the expense of peace andl
good will, and is often the ruin of frendi
or neighbor.
TO believe one person will traduce the,
character of another for selfish end, and
that it is often wilfully done. one has only
to dissect the average mind of humanity.
1t is more often done by covert actions and
the many by ways known only to those who,
desire to accomplish the end sought, and.
that it is done from the rising to the setting.
of the sun every day the year round must
be evident to all. Now it is natural and
laudable prerOgative of every one to advance,
their own individual interest in life socially,
financially and morally, but with this dis
tinctiOn-that it be done with a religious.
and rigid fidelity to honesty and integrity
irrespective of legal authority. But when
one must pass over the Qulvering form of
friend or fellOwman to attain the end sought
the law of God and humanity. if no other,
must cry a halt. The merchant in his
store. the clerk at his desk. fathers and sons.
at the work bench. wives at home and chill
dren at school, the high and the low. the
rich and the poor. all are subjected to the
sword of envy by more or less number of
their fellows. The mechanic who has
steady work in dull times and owes his good
fortune to tried abilities or other polite rea-
SONS, engenderS enmity and envy from that
fact alone; and while he is diligently work
ing to earn his Scant wages mis- less fort
innate neghbOr is trying to supplant him..
and is undermining the foundat. on on which
he stands in order to obtain his place. The
politician seeks in all the devious ways
known to the art to undermine the man
who fills the office he desires for himself.
He visits Dy stealth the haunts at which his
pride. but not his principle revOlts to sow
seed that will rot the root of his friend or
neighbours reputation and ripen for his
own gain. The same applies to the mer-
chant who has for long years tniled to attain
a competence and thinking his fame and
fortune were built upon sure foundations
crumbling around him by storms of malice
and envy.
This at-headed copper colOred serpent is
no respecter of persons or sex. 1t comes
and goes as the wind. and like the wind.
one cannot tell from whence it comes or
whittier it goes. But we do know that it
emanates from thOughtlesS, treacherOus
minds devoid of that heavenly max III given
to errng humanity in the Golden Rule. It.
is dark and Shiny phase in human nature.
1t often happens that a Islander wings it's
flight from word lightly spoken by a per-
son whose social standing in the cOmmun-
ity in which he or she lives gives weight to-
their words. At the same time. no re1ecr
ton upon the character of the person in
question was meant. but when falling upon
the ear of the fox. furnished him the mater
ial from which to manufacture the tale and
cloak at the same time. Who will not.
deprecate the man who would say of an
other what he would not say to his face?
Unless he be repeating what he personally
knows to be facts. if it be- detractiOn of
character. he is rculating SANDER. which
is equal. and very often greater than that
which comes from first hands. And yet,
n ne men out of ten will listen to the tale,
deprecate the absent one as the story goes
on, and at the conclusion the mind is far
from what it was before. if it be of ones
own acquaintance. and how much worse if
it be of stranger and one not known.
DO we ever think how easy it is to drink
in the vile draught brewed by the tongue Of
SANDER or detraction? Then how easy is,
it to imagine what great harm is done to-
one of whom we know scarcely anything;
more than name? If one can say of another
nothing good say nothing at all. is q wise.
and just maxim. and if adhered to. would
save many a tear or heartache. for truly the
tongue Of SANDER is ''mighter than the,
sword" j.
Not Much of a Loss.