The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-19
DISTRACTION.

Judge not, that we be not judged; for
with what Judgment we Judge, ye shall
be judged; and with what measure We
mete it, it shall he measured to YOU
again.-Matthew, T:12.
Human nature at best is weak and I'M
reliable; but men are too prone to look on
the dark side and give their fellow be ings
credit for motives and deeds of which
they are not only not guilty, but which in
very many cases are entirely foreign TO
their character. Success begets envy and
envy is one of the meanest attributes of
the human heat. No one is entirely free
from 1t; but some struggle against it's
promptings and with the help of their
better qualities drive away it's devlish
whisrerings from their minds. Others.
again, listen to its suggestions which lead
only to evil, when malice comes in and
the damage is complete. Then neither
character nor reputation is sacred, but
each alike must fall under it's blightinp
power
Men who have. moved among their fell
lows, honored and admired for qualities
SAA'No AhNeAC iAiCHQ5 Oh every nhnu, meet
with reverses in business or have for a
time at least an apparent shadow cast
upon their reputation, and Immediately
in the eyes Of many all the good they
have heretofore done Is forgotten, while
the darkest hints and Whispers are in
du!ged in. 1t matters pot that these as
PENSIONS are at best of a remote and
doubtful character, which bid fair to be
dispelled under the rch-light of a rigid
investigai ion; II is sufficient for these evil
thinkers to kaow'that so and so is said
tn be short in his accounts for, the dark
est hints and the most damaging sugges-
lions to be made concerning one who had
previously held the respect and esteem of
his fellows.
After time it often happens that the
alleged wrong.doing of the man maligned
existed only in the minds of his detrac-
tors; but even then the whispers of envy
and malice will not he silenced,
and hints are thrown out that
the explanation, though apparently
satisfactory, is not the whole truth
There is something behind, they
VIII say, anu thus characters of many
good men are often secretly assailed
without cause, without reason and with
out sense.
If only wicked persons were guilty of
this offense there would be some hone of
remedying the evil; but unfortunately
many who are in all other repsects wor-
thy members of society are prone to in
dulge in the practice of detraction, sim
ply because it is more natural for them to
think evil than good of their fellows The
adage, Put yourself in his place, would
apply to those who are so ready to con-
denim the unfortunate. Then they wnuld
take different view of the situation and
realize the sublimity and beauty of the
Divine truism, which says, Whatsoever
we would that men should do unto you,
do ye likewise unto them"
-. The city Of Roanoke, though one of the
hest in the State and nation, and though
noted for the high moral tone of it's peo- |
pie is unfortunately the abode of some |
who are too prone to misjudge those who |
fall by the wayside, and are not ready |
enough even with the weak ami erriny to |
practice that charity which vaunteth not
itself, Is not pulled up and is kind. 1t is
believed however, that this Ks rather tie
result of thoughtlessness than delibe
ate-desire to rejoice in another's undoing,
and that by the exercise of that discrim
nation in matters of right and justice
which belongs to every fair-mnded man