San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-11-08

matters VINO is most ready TO eX-
press his opinions in mixed as
semblies. 1t is not the woman
with the most knowledge of the
world who is the most ready to
criticise the people who are a
round her. 1t is not the artist of
the highest grade that passes
opinion most tlippantly or freely
upon matters of art. 1t is not the
real scientist who parades his
knowledge of nature and her Sc
crets. The instructed and the cul-
tured and the travelled are those
who having seen so much are con-
sciOus that the end of thing is
not always seen from the begin
ming and wait development.
The man who is ready to back
his prejudices with his dollars is
the man who in the outcome will
be left with the bag to hold. 1t
is the man who weighs the Situa-
ton, carefully considering the
antagOnisms. and giving due val
ue to that which is alleged a.
gainst his positions, who in the
long run finds himself master of
the debatable ground. Hurry is
the apprentice of skill, but only
the apprentice. He never learns
his masters trade. Silver is de-
cIared to be the emblem of a wise
silence, but in this age it has
been the emblem of an unwise
Overissue of reckless speech. To |
know when not to speak is in it
self no mean preparation for the |
work and judgment of the bust
ness that lies to your hand. Most |
of the proverbs of the world in
reference to speech have been lev
led at thOughtless utterances. be
cause this is the sign of a mind
that is wanting in true reflective
ness.
The fOresighted mind is the one
that reflects. Studies the Situa-
ton carefully. Takes his mental
legs all around the subject and
never comes to any conclusion I'M
til all sides have been examined.
The man who has thus walked
once around any subject will find
hat he has learned so much of all
sides that it is difficult to decide
IpOn any one, and so keeps silent
md takes another turn around
himself for farther information.
This is the habit of mind that is
more desired than any other. 1t
$ like all habits, Il growth. 1t
crows only by what it feeds upon
md in that feeding strengthens
Is powers of increased Observa
ion and judgment. 1t is this
habit that is formed upon the
bench of all our well conducted
courts. 1t was pre-eminent in
he mind of the Irishman who ar
before the bar and asked
he question "Guilty or limo
'ent?" replied, Faith, wait until
| hear the evidence"
This is exactly what is wanted
here in this country, in this state,
in this city, in the great cOngre-
cation of the Light Men and
who will wait until they
hear the evidence. This would
have saved many men during teh
past three months no end of dol
lars wagered on the election just
prevented no end of I'M
pleasant pickering, greatly re-
strained the eXcitements of pOlit-
zeal discussion and resulted in a
more correct knowledge of the
questions involved. What is true
in this field of discussion is true
in every other. The habit of look.
ing around the corner of things |
and examining the back door is
sadly wanting. Hindsight is as |
necessary as a back door yard is |
to a house. Careful attention to |
what is, compared with what is
likely to be, in the light of what |
had been, will face one very near
ly right, and this is what is need
ed. Hindsight is the only infalli-
BILE insurance against costly and
unpleasant mistakes.
To be educated into the are of
seeing the afterward of things is
to be highly endowed with that
prescience that forearms it's pos
sesor against possible evils. It
is the knowledge that comes to
the man who fOrds the stream, of
how deep the water is before he
drives in. That this is a rare
quality is not denied, but it is as
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