The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-30
FAULT FINDING,
Gentle Reader, Does This Hit YOu?-
Examine 1t Carefully.

Examine 1t Carefully.
1t is said that Mr.. Lincoln once par
donrd q soldier, who was under SEN
tence of death by shouting, saying, az
he signed the pardon: II don't be-
Iieve that shooting will do him any
good" The element Of unexpected
ness in the remark startles one. The
expression was not meant to be whim-
steal. II was matter much too Sc
rious for mere joking. There lies be-
Meath the words, which, on the sur
face, seem q sentimental, semi-jocular
apology for mercy, so much OF argu-
ment and of philosophy and of hu-
manity, that one could scarcely pre-
sumo to answer: "But, my dear sir,
1t was not meant to do him any good. !"
But, if not, why not? Why SO sum-
mary a process if for no good to the
one whom meted out? Let law and
justice give the answer which they
must and will. We may not disagree
with what they say, because we have
word about that which seeLls 0 be,
on occasion, even worse than shooting,
and we beg for escape from the torture
of the fault-finder, not believing that
ordinarily faultfindiug does one much
good.
By this we mean that nagging, scold-
ing, harrassing performances which is
the very essence of cowardliness and
meanness. There is such thing as
taking advantage of the weakness of
another, and saying and doing con.
templibly little and hateful thing.
Wherever the relationship between
two persons is such that one must take
without answer whatever is said, and
is taken of that relationship
to say what would not be said under
other circumstances, then meanness
and cruelty are developed OH one side,
while bitterness and abjectness are
nurtured on the other. IL is possible
that this state Of affairs may exist
where the relationship is that of teach
er and a pupil, or even parent and
child, Or possibly, husband. and wife,
or all invalid and indulgent friends, oI
between employer and employee. Ii
maybe that in many cases, in these or
in other relationships, there are hate
ful infections that tend, by day, 10 hu-
miliale, hurt aud harden. !
Wholesome reproof Is one thing, and
a very necessary and helpful thing. too:
When one has committed some actual
and laid himself open
to ringing condemnation, it Is like
balm to the wound for some faithful
friend to come with "Thou art the
man that levels one a. with stroke 0f
lightning, and leads to swift confession
that clears the whole moral atmos-
phere." There are cases when child
rather relishes gOoh whipping when
in right, resolute and
manly way. And there are cases when
q man feels the better for heing brought
up roundly and made to answer for
some transgressi"n or delinquency |
The sense of justice exists, more or
less clearly developed in every one,
and there are few persons who do not
feel it to be sort of luxury to ac-
kn0 0wledge, now and then, under the
right circumstances, that they are mis-.
,rable sinners, aud that they need. ami
are ready 10 accept, f"rgiving grace
rom God, or man, or both.
But no one likes to be perpetually
'ound fault with. No one, not even
child, enjoys beng picked at and crltl-
,lsed and lacerated at every turn. 1t
y like shooting. 1t is not calculated
% do any good. 1t is too often not
meant 10 DO any good. Iti is too often
he mere expression of a nervous, ab:
1ormaI, petty spirit. Many a one will
nag and hurt and whine in the minor
key, and Immediately turn at the ad-
vent of stranger, all equal or supe-
.ior, to pleasant tones and lining
lace. Away with it, out upon it,
down on 1t, through with it, anything
to get rid of such spirit. Though
Xantippe, Diogenes, Mrs. t'audle or
Soomon's ''braWling woman In q wide
house," do the scolding, we would any
IF us rather dwell on housetop, or in
! cellar, rather than endure it. So let
US be cnnsiderate. and not drive other !
people to these eXtremities. !
There is danger that anyone who Is
10 administer counsel and
and instruction may take
It upon himself to do common scold-
ny, and there have been propie in
many situations who have yielded to
he temptation. But they have re.
,elved the results themselves, anu
have been filed with the fruit of their
own doings. The common scold wlelds
4 two edgeh sword, and for every
wound he inflicts ON others, he thrusts