San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-15
A DISCUSSION on sHAMs.
Written for the Light.

OF today is enyeloped in an atmos
phere of glaring sham and affectatior
is fact that that most sanguine op
timist will hardly venture to deny.
So conspicuous, so apparent is the
fact that it is quite appreciable
to many persons endowed with ordin,
airy intelligence and a keen sense OF
discernment. Some are so preoccu.
pied as to plead ignorance to the fact
Others again so insensible as to feign
Indifference toward it. Still the fact
remains. 1t is the impregnable Gil
braltar, that neither threats nor sup
| plications can move.
| Since it is manifest that we live in
an age of sham-an era of affectation
we should muster enough courage
and individuality to expose the evils
following in the wake of such a con-
| ditiOn.
Every person who has at heart the
welfare of his fellowman and cherish
es honesty of purpose and nobility
of character should claim it his pro-
vince and regard it his duty to wage
unrelented warfare upon these para
sites that prey on, and demoralize the
body social.
And no matter wherever discovered
whether il be under the robes of a
Dives or beneath the rags of Lazar-
us-they should be exposed and
brought before the tribunal of ridi-
Guile and reprOach.
1t cannot be questioned that the
tyranny of custom and the dictum of
cOnventiOnalism have made insidious-
ly and impreceptibly perhaps a far too
willing slave of man.
Although we know that all is not
gold that glitters, we still persist in
paying homage at the shrine of glare
and glitter; and chase DER fields of
pictured faicy, the gorgeously gilded
butterfly of folly.
We cling with marvellous tenacity to
the skirts of affectation and dissimu-
lation, and instead of emuIating the
virtues of our fellowmen, we rather
strive to initiate their vanlties. And
why2
Firstly, because we are too super
fetal in our observations of things
that come within the pale. of our ex-
periences from day to day; secondly,
because we are entirely too hasty in
our conclusions concerning them, last
but not least, because we assidiously
court ostentation without divining
that some day we must wed folly.
We conclude that certain lines of
conduct are unquestionably proper
because they may have the sanction
of public or popular opinion. No con-
clusion can be more erroneous-no de-
duction more delusive!
What after all is popular opinion?
1t may be defined as an ephemeral at
titude of divers minds, having like
impressions. Popular opinion may be
aptly compared with the chameleon
which possess the power of changing
from one color to another, condition
favOring.
There is nothing stable about popu
larity; and those that endeavor to
bask in it's sushine are deluded NOR
tails, indeed, for some day they may
find themselves abandoned and CROP
ing in the shadow of obscurity. More
over, / am fully convinced that popu-
lar opinion is not and can not become
the measure of true worth.
1 may be wrQng-"to err is mortal
but these are my convictions.
If we truly espouse the cause Of
humanity, we should not rest content
until we have broken every chain
that holds our fellowmen slaves to
sham and observation-disclosures of Gus
tom and conventionalism.
We should, 1 reiterate, exercise our
utmost powers in the effort to eman-
cipate man from so servile a condi-
tion-a condition that will eventual
ly crush out every noble sentiment
and every sincere endeayor that ever
Graded in his heart.
But it may be asked how is this 10
be effected? By what manner of APP
proach and procedure is such an end
to be achieved?
Let us reason together. II our di-
agnOsis be correct we are Wis Wis to a
serious malady; and it is obvious
that serious maladies require heroic
treatment.
This shall be our premise.
In dealing with the condition con-
fronting us, the adoption of heroic
measures are essential. The first step
in our crusade of reform shall there,
fore, be a radical one.
! The mask of sham and affectatior