San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-11-29

i
and dread. Let down the rein and
see the thankful gratitude that springs
at once into their every movement.
| We talk of the chivalry of our glo-
rious south. What is true chivalry
1t is not the courtesy we show our
equals in the ranks Of life. 1t is the
courteous consideration we give to
those whom we are pleased to call
beneath us in the social, financial or
intellectual walks of life. We treat
those who are on an equal plane with
us or who are our Superiors in power
| or position, courteously and politely
| because we must, but the true test of
| character is how we treat those 'be-
meath" Us or dependent upon us.
| If we are so fortunate as to have
money-and the power that it gives.
| If we have been blessed with good
| blood from our ancestors, and high
| ideals or life from worthy parents
| III we have had the supreme advant-
| age of education-and the culture of
intellectual and gifted friends and
| acquaintance. If our environments
have been delicate and moral and
spiritual, not only have we almost all
things to be thankful for. but how
great our opportunities to make others
thankful by shedding our inheritance
like the sunshine and the dew on the
just and the unjust.
1t does not make us better than our
fellows, it only empowers us with so
much more to give and to all who
come within our touch we can make
glad and better. because the radia-
lions of a true and noble character
purifies the atmosphere and all who
breathe it are better and more inspir-
ed to live truer and be kinder to all
created things, and kindness and duty
are the watchwords.
There is nothing so kingly as kind
ness,
There is nothing so noble as truth"
1t does require courage to step out
from the prescribed ranks and stand
firmly by the principle of right as we
see it.
There are those who will call us
"cranks" and assert a selfish motive,
but the reward comes from within
ourselves, and "be thou pure as ice
and chaSte as snow thou shall not
escape calumny.
And if we are to be controlled or
actuated by what people will say,
then our task is well nigh hopeless.
To stand for the under dog" must
incur the displeasure of some, but the
silent grasp of the hand. the abso-
lutte trust and affection of eloquent
eyes-is reward greater than words
and blots out all remembrance of the
criticisms of the unthinking. Only
those who hsve felt aud seen
these things" can understand.
COnfucius taught his followers
many hundreds of years ago, the
same spirit that the humble Nazarene
so powerfully emphasized: do as we
would be done by" If today in our
desire to create thankfulness in the
hearts of others-if all the world be-
gan it, we should be living in the mil
lenium. We should have reached the
Nirvana of the Hindoos. and the "Ul-
TINA thule" of the poets and mystices
and indeed the glory of God would be
over us, and the kingdom of Heaven
within us and without us.
Almost all of human and animal suf-
fering-yea; and divine suffering, as
represented by the man of Gallilee,
could cease-did we but obey these
noble words. Even were we ready
to speak the gentle word and with
hold the harsh one, how often would
the cloud of trouble drop from some
pallid face, and the light of hope rad
late it, and at once we have made
some one thankful.
To those of us who see. as we pass
along life's highway, there is nothing
so pitiful as the worn, haunted faces
Of those who have been disappointed
and deceived both by the world and
by themselves. Sad as it is to feel
that we have nothing to be thankful
for, how much sadder to know that
we have made no one and nothing
thankful: for it is always better to be
hurt than to hurt; always better to
receive a blow than to give one. AS
hard and cruel as it is to bear injus-
tice and wrong and false judgment,
it is far more serious to make others
bear it from us. AS heart breaking
as it may be to have our friends
"pass by on the other side" Indifferent
to our longing eyes: how much more
soul killing to be guilty Of this our
selves.
And instead of holding our skirts
aside as if fearing contamination,
when we pass n brother, who has
been too weak to stand alone. or
sister, who from some struggle and
amid her anguish, has also found
not strength-we would enfOld them
in hopeful words. A touch Of the
hand and smile of recognition and
encouragement; would not we give
tender cause for thankfulness, and
would not in turn the glow of spirit
ual approval warm our own hearts?
for "mercy is twice blessed-it bless
es him who gives and him who takes"
And this brings us back again to
the odd question: What is it that
| makes us better than our fellows?
What gives us the right to assume SUI
nariority and withhold the helDful