Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-05-05

equal to q first rate detective story,
even one of Sherlock Holmes miracu-
lous performances as portrayed by Co
nan Doyle, for you can find it right in
side Of yourself, and probably everybody
has found out by the time they can
keenly enjoy.a detective story-a first
class one, | mean-that nothing in the
world is so interesting to a ma as his
own self. l know very handsome mar
who has an album filed with pictures
of himself at different ages and in diff
o somewhat brutal frankness that it is
to him by far the most interesting col
lection of pictures the world could pro-
duce.
Another man, far from handsome,
but very bright, cynically proclaims that
he lives to the glory and for the adj
vancement of Mephistopheles or Iago or
by whatever name you choose to supply
his real name.
Well, then, granted that the most
captivating study of mankind is him.
self, l will suggest to my friends pining
for amusement the little game of hunt
ing up ''the other end" of their own
pet virtues, and if they have any faults
or can get some friend to point out one
Or two they may solace themselves by
discovering that every fault has its al
tentative virtue.
For instance, our friend M. l., who
lives for his own glory and advantage,
is only the other end of the man who
lives to spread abroad some great dis
covery and advantage to the world,
which becomes incidentally glory and
advantage to himself. Jenner, Fulton,
Ericsson, Christopher Columbus and
several other worldwide benefactors
were men who, if their natures had
taken another turn, would have spent
life in admiring their own talents and
despising other people who couldn't see
so much.
The "lovely woman who Stops to
folly" for loves sake is one who is hold
ing the sc9pter of womanhood by the
wrong end and misusing the noble vir-
tue of love and self sacrifice. The law
yer who sells his gift of eloquence and
defends the criminal who pays him is
only holding by the wrong end that
weapon which is mightier than sword
or pen--the tongue of tho ready speaker.
Now bring it right home and sec what
fun it is.
When you ran and helped grandmam-
ma up the steps and seated her so pref
tily in the best chair and brought her
some tea and waited upon her, as she
said, like an angel, it was very filial
and sweet and atfectionate and dear,
wasn't it? At any rate, you felt yourself
very good while you did it and wero not
surprised at her praise and potting, but
didn't you know in the depths of your
deceitful little heart that Robert Brown
low was locking on, and that he declares
sweetness, docility and domesticity a
woman's cliefest Of charms?
Now comes the little game. That ac-
ton had two ends-one of them all
abloom with the fair lilies of womanly
virtue, and the other carved into the
similitude Of a grinning imp Of false
hood and pretense. Which end really
was uppermost? See?
But for your comfort let me suggest
hat myself often cannot be sure which
end was uppernost, for like most other
people l generally carry tho pole so even
" balanced that just a little tilt will in
cline it one way or the other.
Another queer thing about this bal
ancing is that very often we sec IL end
of the staff while the world cries out at
the other. Did You never find yourself
blushing and ashamed at praise and
laudation and popularity bestowed most
lavishly upon some action which the
world considers very self denying and
generous when your OWL conscience told
you the motive was to gain this very
laudation or perhaps money or position
or some other price?
And were you never astonished and
grieved at finding yourself accused Of
ly you had for ono lost sight Of tire
some self and been working purely and
simply for other people?
Well, it was in both cases because the
world had got hold Of the wrong end OF
the stick, while you knew more accu-
rately which end you really held.
Perhaps the virtue most often used by
its wrong handle and so converted into
a vice is the quality Of sincerity. Mos
of US declare with a warm glow Of con.
scious virtue about the heart that what
even faults we may possess that of false
hood is far from us. 1t is very odd, bu!
l have never known IN exception to this
rule. Everybody claims to be truthful,
and in point of fact hardly anybody is
absolutely truthful
Why is this?
Probably because truth is a thing SC
lovely in itself that we all wish to think
it one of our own characteristics and Sc
parjure ourselves by claiming it.
But truth, like love, reaches at its
one extremity to the very zenith and at
the other sinks to the darkest depths.
/ Love is the chief attribute Of the Deity,
and debased possession is the delight Of
devils So truth divine and godlike in
is highest examples is made a very in
Surnent Of demons in its distorted form.
But yet those who use it III this form
invariably boast, Il am SO sincere / feel
that / really must speak the truth at all
risks"
You know and I know that sort o.
truth teller, the malicious CLEAN Of the
tye, the nendish glee of the smile, the
false ring Of the voice, the st~ereotyped
phrases and the inevitable result. Per
haps it is only a petty little sting aftel
all, such as:
Eyes. dear, I thought you ought tc
know, and Of course it is my duty to tel
the truth, but she did say that your con-
duct ON that occasion was very remark
able-yes, very remarkable indeed-and
everybody was commenting on it"
Or perhaps:
"They admiring hat gown d
yours, and Ifelt obliged t tell them thai
it was made over from two others and
not a Worth at all had to tell thu
truth, you know"
Or:
"Too bad your sister has married init
an insane family. Oh, didn't you know
it? Yes, indeed. His aunt ON the ia
theirs side is in an asylum at this min
nte. / don't believe In suppressing TIL
truth Do your
And perhaps II issomething far mon