The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-05-21
Tepme. S1.O0p per year. in advance
Six Months 80 cents.

closely they would find the same, if
not greater defects, in themselves than
the persons they are finding fault with.
They often try to put stumbling
block in the way of another person.
They endeavor to pull them down to
their own level. Such people are not
the ones who command the respect of
their fellow men, but rather their con-
tempt and aversion. They are not fit
for any respectable society. and so long
as they persist in this contemplate
practice, they will not maintain the
love and respect of those with whom
they associate. They must be ignor-
ant, or else they have very little self
knowledge. Some of them, at least,
have a fair amount of learning, but
their system of ethics is plainly de-
fective.
What pleasant life such person
must lead. What pleasant thoughts
must combine with it to make 1t so.
He is always in hot water. Shall we
belong to this clique of faultfnders
and chronic grumblers, who begrudge
others any good fortune and complain
because they are not as fortunate, and
who even find fault with other peoples
moods? Bah, Such individuals are
not worthy of note except as we would
notice dog with broken leg. They
are to be pitied in certain sense. 1t
seems to me that no sound person
would be capable of this malicious
habit
OF course we may have reason at
times to find fault; there may be cases,
and I may not say exceptional ones,
for very frequently we have good rea-
son to blame, and at such times it may
be our duty to do this for the delin-
quents own benefit.
But there is no excuse whatever for
a person to be continually finding fault
with things that do not in the least
concern him. AS you value your own
manly principle drop it, and drop it
now," not only for your own benefit,
but for the benefit of those with whom
you come in contact.
There are so many different classes
of faultfinders that it would be diff
cult for me to try to depict them all.
But the chief one to which l refer in
this essayi is that class who are always
trying to find flaws and blemishes in
the character and actions of others.
They are found almost everywhere.
They evince great pleasure in trying
to cause the unfortunate victim all
the misery and humiliation they possi-
bly, can. What good critics some of
them would make if their criticisms
were directed against some object which
needs it more than they do themselves!
They look for the peccadilloes in 9th
er peoples character and actions, and
criticise harshly that very fault which
they themselves possess to a far greater
extent. They see the ''mote" in others
eyes but not the "beam' in their own.
Now, there is nothing that will posi-
bly, save us more trouble than self
communion; look within before we
find fault with anyone's character or
actions or work, and we will possibly
find that we are living in glass house,
and that it is very dangerous for us to
throw stones at anyone, for in the end
we may be made to see that the fault
is far worse within ourselves.
There is no profit to be gained in the
barren soil of faultfnding and unjust
criticism, but there is a more happy
and enjoyable existence to be gained
in the climate of self-communion and
generosity towards the faults of others.
There are many people in this world
who will find, if they try the shoe on,
that it is perfect fit, and 1 sincerely
hope that when they get it on, they
will keep it on. Always wear shoes
that fit, and this one is guaranteed to
fit the majority.-No. 1923 in Reforma-
tory Record.
Nothing, indeed, but the possession
| 0f soma divine noxvar can with anv GER