Middletown transcript., 1895-07-13
MIDDLETowN, DEL, JULY 10, 1895.
The date on the label on your
paper shows the time to which
your subscription Is paid.
KIND WORDS,

Too often the kind words, tardily
spoken, fall upon ears that are forever
closed to mortal voice. Their utter
ance might have given joy and hope
during life, encouragement when most
needed but they were not spoken.
Around the grave they do no good to
the silent occupant, though they may
be treasured by friends and thus be not
altogether lost. Do you know a man
who is doing good work, may be
with great self denial? If you do, 60
to him and commend his efforts. Let
him know that you at least in the
community recognize and value his
work. 1t will do him good, and what
is more, it will do you good. Do you
know woman who is struggling againt
adversely to live honestly and to merit
the respect of her neighbors? If you
are observant, you know her. Give to
such an one an encouraging word. Ii
you are able, give that which is more
substantial, though it may not do her
more good than pleasant words from
Christian heart. There is too much
selfshness and coldness in the world.
There is an inexcusable Indifference to
the happiness of others, an I-don't-
care manner in treating associates
that is neither polite nor Christian, if
it could be the one without being the
other. In short, there are too many
kind words unspoken, if we may be
permitted the expression. The ears
that should hear them they never
reach, and the hearts that should be
cheered by them, remain sad. Have you,
kind reader, done your duty to your
neighbor in this respect? Answer
yourself the question and act upon it.
Are you a fattererp Then do not
take credit to yourself for speaking
kind words. Flattery is not kind.
Flattery is mockery, and mockery is
cruel. You may deceive yourself in
thinking your flattery is SO we'll con-
cealed that your insincerity is not rec
ognized but you deceive no one else.
A child recognizes the difference be-
tween flattery and sincerity. For this
reason no one who is sincere should
hesitate to speak words of commenda-
tion when the occasion prompts for fear
they may be mistaken for flattery. AL
ways follow the prompting to do good
and the results will be satisfactory.
These thoughts have been suggested
by the kind words of friend who paid
our sanctum visit this week and by
letter from well-known member of
the New Castle County Bar. Our
friend said he has found that
minister of the gospel appreciates COM
mendation and that he is often dis
couraged because he does not receive
it when it is deserved. On the same
line of reasoning he thought the editor
might bear little commendation, and
he can. An enclosure last week from
an entire stranger who for the first
time read copy of the TRANSCRIPT
contained the following commentator
"a years subscription in advance.
But the kind words contained in the
letter referred to are more for our
friend, Judge Fisher, whose excellent
article on the "Moors of Delaware"
the TRANSCRIPT copied last week.
To encourage more of such articles
and at the same time give merited
praise to the author of the article, we
take the liberty to print the letter re-
ceived this week:
Law Offices of
BRADFORD, VANDEGRIFT & BYRNE.
MY DEAR Mr.. DowNHAM Per
NIT me to thank you and the Milford
Herald for giving publicity to the ar
ticle by Judge Fisher concerning the
origin of the Delaware "Moors-"
Only recently I urged upon gentle
man who knew of the Sockum trial
wherein the history of these people was
part Of the evidence,t to put it in perman-
ent form. I do not think our newspapers
can do better than preserve and stimu-
late an interest in the local history and
traditions of the State.
Yours Truly,
LEWIS G. VANDEGRIFT.