Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-04-11

US; and yet we insist that we have the
idea. We says "He is u type OF manly
virtue" "lle is OF strict integrity"
Such person Is "of high moral worth"
These titles are useful; 10 repeat any
OF then often during u business day 10
sort OF strange tonic. Try It, my
young reader. As you leave your door
step IN tho morning tomorrow. take
any one OF tho above definitions on
your minds tongue, repeating 1t often
10 yourself There is charm. prac-
,ical spell for good. | mean, cast over
the mind by such words as probity.
good faith, principle. man OF his
word. a sterling fellow. the soul Of rec
titudo. Something is gained by famll-
iarzing ono's self with the very termin-
ology Of honor. One can hardly find
u sharper rebuke than some OF these
descriptions made a predicate 10 his
own name. Am high minded man?
Am | chivalrous--spirited TO resent n
moan. craven selfish or lccherous sug-
gcstion? Am unbribcd. always, thus
far. unbought and incorruptible? In
fact, we never get ON very far In the
study OF any idoalism without the uso
OF these old sign-boards by which man
kind have found their way in times
past. A young person is TO be con-
graduated who knows the names OF
things. A time-server, fortune-hun-
ter. u mercenary sneak, back-biter. a
blackguard. n slippery Dick, para
site, an Migrate. a snivellor. a fawner
for favors; these are like warning no.
ticcs posted on country highway;
Dangerous"
A world OF trash goes under the name
OF honor. Mon boast themselves OF
honor in the face Of the lie direct, yet
who are foul with lust Men tip the
hat like grandoes on Beacon street, In
the afternoon sunlight, who, down in
midnight Washington street, cry to her
coarsely as she passes. "Hullor' Poor
Alexander Hamilton thought TO defend
his honor by participating in murder;
yet the samo illustrious mind might
have freely aud unblushingly confessed
gallantries without dishonor. according
10 tho code. A sensitive honor In
trade Is fur from enough. Money Is no
more sacred surely than womanhood.
Political reputation is no more u pre-
cious thing than nyoung working girls
purity. or that OF her who is dependent
on the Senator Tor her place In the de-
partmsnt to earn her own and her wid-
owed mothers bread. Sophomore honor
In football Is a fine sentiment; but so
Is truth In the monthly account drawn
on father, or regard for mothers
wishes In health or morals. Many
lawn tennis player would perish before
he would cheat yet the photographs
OF actresses displayed on the mantle
up in that college room, lacking In de-
cency. suggest mind stenchful with
the foulest personal dishonor.
This delicate sensibility has TO be
cultivated In an all-round development.
or a man will bo caught mapping and
display his baseness OF secret heart.
Honor is clean thinking. pure imaglna-
tions, untarnished day dreams, air cas-
ties with aspotless a hero and n chaste
heroine. Honor is refinement, illumin-
ated by the moral sense; II Ia culture
ruled by Gods Holy law OF what is
right and wrong; 1t Is good taste ex-
tended 70 matters ethical, TO which
questions OF dress and the fashion In
behavior are but the street gate and
outside door. Honor is the elegance OF
Justice, the grace and ornament OF buy
ing and selling. 1t is so superb a senti-
ment OF the heart that no phrase de-
scribes II. We aro most conscious OF |
honor In its wounding; we know We |
are ashamed and suffering; wo look far
up to the heights Of tho opposite de-
light, and wish we stood there again.
As mountains arc best revealed BY
standing at their feet, so In tho low
vale OF disgrace do we most keenly ap-
preciate honor. One needs to con care
fully his mQmcnts OF shame; how II
happened; what one did or said that
humiliated him; what unspeakable self
wrath and anguish one suffered. Thon
resolve hereafter that honor leads in
Just the opposite direction.
The child's honor should be par
ent's earliest care. Whatever religious
training you may inculoate. there can
be no steadfast character without .
sensitive and yet rigorous sense Of per.