Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-05

pure and generous motives, exercised py
good heart. The wisdom and tact OF
the unjust steward, and his foresight,
not his villainy, were commended ny our
Lord.
This philosophy OF contrast or con-
traries Is n very high wisdom. 1t IS
practical ard effective; almost irreslstioie.
IL magnines and exalts the divineness'
the power, the beauty, the grace tho
excellence OF virtue while II makes ioiiy'
misbehavior, and vice ugly ana oIen-
sive by its own light
This divine and manly policy or con-
trast Is often commended IN scripture
by precept and example. a solt an
sver turns away wrath. The WIFE OF
the unbeliever, by well doing, is 10 put
10 silence the ignorance OF her HUSBAND.
The evil bow before the just. the 1oui
before the Clearly The meekness or tho
Saviour bewildered the Roman tyrahl
How ugly does boisterousnesS and Tor
wardness appear in the presence or the
auictness and temperance OF the gem
tlemanl How vulgar and unseemly
| does strong language appear by the sac
of chaste. considerable, and thoushtiui
utterances! The soft answer turns away
wrath by making the rough man
ashamed of himself. The brute never
gives place; the gentleman always does.
And in a moment the culpable and in
temperate is bowling before the just and
| self-governed.
1t Is often the commonest OF common
place folly to pay in kind, to give back
as good as is sent; or, rather, as bad
| as Is sent; TO throw mud. An old friend
OF ours used to delight to impress his
advice. Keep in the right. The alb
| surd-most Of us-are not content short
Of doing or saying something very
wrong. When we arc sprawled ana an
to blame, then we feel better for being
much worse, objects OF pity and re-
proach to ourselves and others; alto
| gether at a disadvantage.
| Solomon SAYS: A wise man keepeth
it in till afterwards. David kept his
temper, while the fire burned within
him. which was very well. When he
blew off he charged the whole human
race as liars. like the disguised sea-
captain in the Revenue office. who
damned all Americans individually,
from Christopher Columbus down to
Abraham Lincoln.
! 1t does seem 10 be one Of the high
triumphs OF the Devil when mean
and selfish and despicable scoundrel,
like Oily Cannon. provokes and irri-
| tates a frank and honorable nature into
| miSbehavtor, while ne SITS SmlIlng Dy
and wonders ct the want Of self-control
OF his friend, that he should so expose
| and make a spectacle of himself.
| As opposed to vice and selfish bad
ness, contrast is wise and admirable.
But to make another simple and inno-
cent feel badly. and embarrassed by
your own perfect propriety; to make
unlucky manners or ill-ftting clothes I'M
happy by your own punctilousness and
fineness. Is the intensity Of selfshness
and ill-manners, the perfection of snob-
bishness and il-breeding. The cupa-
bility of it Is shown in the Indignation
of the Saviour against him that would
offend little one. To such an offender,
rock, a halter, and a mill-pond are in
order. 1t is the height of vulgarity to
magnify our own privileges and advan-
tages, physical. financial. or intellectual,
| in contrast with the general world. And
| the general world resents the offence
by showers of glances, reflections. and
| renarks-worse than the shower OF mis-
sies that befell Mr.. P!ckwick in the
pound. And tho poor fools take 1t all
for admiration Who is able to stand
before envy? A queer luxury, to be
sure!