Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-12-16
ABOUT sELF-sAcRlFIcE.
IL Is Admirable Only When Guided L
Iseaapr, and j stice.

ASOOI SGEF F-0ASniEtS w.
IL Is Admirable Only When Guided by
Reason aud j .stice.
Tho generous spirit that induces tho
sacrifices of self for others seems to DO
altogether admirable, yet little renec-
ton will show that this, like other good
things, may be carried to suchan extent
rs to be vice rather than a virtue.
Sometimes the self-sacriilce defeats its
own purpose by developing in others
degree of scllishness injurious to them
and ultimately leading to their un hap
piness. Take the case OF loving wife,
who seeks to crafty every wish of her
husband without regard to her own COM
fort or happiness, who forgivos him all
the wrongs no may do and continue
to tho end TO worship an ideal existing
only in hcr imagination. II he is selfish
enough, to begin with, to allow such
sacrifices in his behalf he will soon
grow moro selfish and demand as right
those attentions and sacrifices accorded
him through an excess of love. lie VIII
become arrogant. incapable of caring for
himself, and except when his wife Is
present to act as his fhand-naid he will
he madc unhappy by having no one to
pet and humor him in the way to which
lie has become accustomed. She thinks
only OF his happiness, anticipates his
wishes, neglects her own desires that he
may be gratiiled, and instead OF promot-
ing his ultimate good renders him unit
for the society of other more selfish COM
panions. But it is mothers, and cspec-
tally widowed mothers, who carry tho
spirit OF sacrifice for others to the great
est extravaganza. and oltcn with dis
astrous results to themselves and to
those they love. Thinking only OF tho
pleasures to be afforded their child, they
humor him in every way, develop his
selfish instincts, encourage him to dress
and live beyond his true means, or at
the sacrifice of homo comforts, and find
when he has reached manhood, that no
is utterly ungratcful, dissatisfied with
his condition, perhaps made vicious by
his idlo habits and need for moro money
than he can command. Sacrifices that
produce such results may have their
origin in kindly heart and in lovablo
disposition, but They are so little guided
by reason and good sense that they arc
not to be commended. Even in bust
ness life aad in the professions there
are mon who make sacrifices through
modosty or love of the arts and sciences)
that are unjust to themselves and do In
jury to others by developing In the lat
ter degree OF sclfishness that could
tnN hnt To- prn al
unselfish people to minister to ita
growth. A man devoted to science, talk
ing no thought of himself or OF the ro
wards to be won for his own support oil
qualification, makes discovery
which he gives freely to the
world. Another Of moro prac
tical turn of mind takes up the discov
cry. turns 1t to good account, obtains Q
patent on tho application, and acquires
q great fortune through tax laid upoi
the real discoverer and others like him
The sacrifices made by modest men o
ability out of devotion to some hobby o
art or science or educational effort ar
often mischievous in two ways. The
deprive the real worker Of the reward
d Oh TtDuLhtloh AhN hVhoJ eh"' NfN -
due, and they give those rewards to som
undeserving man whose self-assertio
brings him to the front. The excus
usually made for such retiring modest
by the workers Is that they care onl
for the advancement Of humanity j
some special line; that they are conten
to- be unknown and havo no selfish dc
siro for money rewards. Sacrifices
this kind should not bo made. The
arc not so admirable when examined a
they appear to be at first sight io
though prompted by good motives
high character, they work injustice. Th
mon who do the work in any public ei
: aterprise should get the reward thereto
, in place and reputation. Self-saorifc
, by wives, mothers. scientists and otht
) workers can only be wholly admirabl
/ when it is guided by reason and does
} injustice. Baltimore Sun.