Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-25
APPRECIATION.

Gentle reader, whenever you walk about
graveyard you cannot fail to notice what
a fine lot Of people are resting there. The
gravestones tell of the sterling worth, the
nobility of soul, the yabounding piety, the
excellent domestic virtues and the notable
achievements of those whose memory they
are set to perpetuate. You do not find
even one gravestone that says "Heze lies a
scamp" or "Here lies liar" or any thing
of that kind. All is compliment, eulogy
and praise. You feel certain melancholy
pleasure in being near even 'tthe remains''
of such goodly company, and you hope
that their spirits are able to notice and en-
slowed upon them.
How many of these splendid dead folks
were appreciated before they died, Not
many. And If they wers thay didn't hear
much abott it. But they ought t. have
heard. Human beings ought to bs at least
as well disposed and appreciative as grave
stones, and If they tried hard they could
probably think of a. pleasant things to say
to their living fellow beings as the grave
stones say of the dead. And the living
want and reed the appreciation as
much as the dead do, It some
times seems little curious to us that
there should be such a longing for appre
citation as most people have The good
opinion of his fellow beings is not essen
tial to philosopher, but the philosophers
are few, and most people are hungry for
the appreciation they don't get until 1t is
carved on their cold gravestones. A dis
tinguished senator of the United States
once said to us that he suffered more from
the lack of expression of appreciation by
his friends than from the savage attacks
of his enemies. And noted preacher of
the gospel told US that although the ap-
proval of his conscience was what he tried
most to gain and to enjoy, he was afraid
| that the spoken appreciation of those to
whom he preached was sometimes quite as
sweet as the approval of the ''still, small
| voice." When he could hear both voices
he was happy.
Now, as it is so easy to make a man or a
woman feel better by speaking word of
| appreciation, why is it not good plan to
study to initiate gravestones in this respect,
It isn't hard work to see good things in
other people, and 1t is pleasant and
profitable exercise of ingenuity to discove,
as many as possible. And when discov
cred 1t is equally pleasant and profitable tc
mention them, not, perhaps, in the formal
and solemn way of the gravestone, but in
as easy, friendly and appropriate way At
can be invented. Let your friends know
that you see their good points. Lei
your family know that nearness tc
them does not obscure their good
qualities. If your preacher breaches good
sermon tell him so. 1t wont unduly puff
him up, and 1t may save him from fit o1
the blues. If your doctor does well BY
| you lot him know that you appreciate it
If your groceryman serves you we'll tel
him that you notice 1t. And If anybody
does anything that will warrant you IL
saying pleasant word of appreciation t.
him or her say 1t. Be little careful
though, about expressing any apprecistio,
of your fsvorite newspaper, for those VIII
make newspapers should not be violentl..
surprised, as they haven't time to stop t.
have heart disease or apoplexy.
The art of appreciation and the art o
expressing appreciation can be proatabl.
studied. If these gentle and pleasant art
were studied aud practiced more than the
are the world would be more comfortsbl
place than 1t is It ought to be at least a
pleasant as graveyard, aud human being
ought to be SIS pleasant and apareciativ
as gravestones.