The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-24


| What should Miss Keso do under the cir
cumstances? Miss Kelso is the public librarian
| at Los Angeles and these IRE the circumstances:
In discharge OF the supposed duties OF her Of
| fee she purchased certain books which gave
great offense to some prominent members OF
the community, among them the Rev. j. w.
Campbell, who prayed openly IN his church as
follows: 80 Lord, vouchsaf. Thy saving grace
to the librarian OF the Los Angeles city library
and cleanse her from all sin and make her
worthy of her Office. Amen" When Miss Kelso
heard OF this petition, instead of taking it with
thankfulness and with meek ana lowly
spirit, she waxed exceeding wroth and has in
stituted a civil suit, dema lding 5000 dam
ages for defamation OF character. And the
question recurs what should she do under the
circumstance S?
The fact that she has brought suit is tanta-
mount to a confession no: only OF mere over
sensitiveness but of doubt in her mind as TO
the strength of her position. She should know
that cergymen are q sensitive lot, and that
enthusiasm in their calling often le IDS them
to do things which may appear to be question
able taste ii they are no. actual assaults on
character. As public officer Miss Kelso should
know that she is target for CRITICS IN but,
having the greatest confidence in her own
judgment and in her ability to manage her
own office, she should stand on her dignity
and trust TO the good sense OF the community
to give her the win iicati1n and approval which
can never come with verdict OF damages.
Unfortunately Miss Kelso, like tremendous
majority of women, is deficient in the quality
of humor or she would reco ynize in the prayer
OF Rev. Mr.. Campbell one OF the most humor-
Gus bits OF pleading which have assembled to
heaven in many Il long day. The average man
in Miss Kelso's place would treat it as Jest
not in so far as it applies to the sacred proper
ties but in the really humorous manner in
which the revernei gentleman addresses his
microscopy remarks. Not being hume 'ous,
but pc sibly II very earnest and devout
Christian herself, Miss Kelso has magnifed the
i'm portance of the incident
Yet it is hard to see how this prayer, what
ever may have been Mr.. Cdmpbell's animus
famaton Of character 1t is, of course, a little
embarrassing to be prayed for in public, but,
on the other hand, if the prayers OF the right
eous do avail, and we are so cred bly, informed,
it is distinctive advantage to be the subject
of SO general petition. Thousands of praye rs
are sent up in churches every Sunday for the
pre- ident OF the United States for congress
and for other people who are the objects o.
popular Christian interest, and saving grace is
very abundantly ask in their behalf. If Miss
Kelsois orthodox she must beli.v in natural
ueprdVlty, dHu So pelleNlhS Will uihtV tiat ~
is desirable to be cleansei OF all sin, as Mr.
Campbell sugg .sts. The phrase "make her
worthy os her ONCE" may be trifle amblgu-
GUS mas much as it may imply either that she
is not at all worthy of her office, or being
worthy at present, is in danger OF falling from
grace But with the worst pc 'sible construc-
ton the language is hardly libelou5. and it is
impossible to convict Mr. Ca npbell of a crime
more serious than bad taste. Looking at it,
therefore, in this light, Miss Kelso seems to
have fallen into error in going into court for
vindicaton The only gamer by the continued
agitation will be the devil, who will take up
his residence in Los Angeles while the Sc OF
Kelso VS.. Campbell is in progress.