The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-03-05
SPURIOUS GOOD NATURE.
The Genuine Costs High Resolve ana
Effort to Maintain IL.

=
Effort to Maintain IL.
In one of his novels Charles Kingsley
makes certain character say of am
other: "His good nature is the fruit
of a want of feeling" At glance one
sees something almost contradictory i'm
the idea, because the rule sanctioned
by everyday thinking associates a lack
of feeling with the opposite of good ma
ture. But, IL is certain that opposite
qualities cannot spring from the same
cause, one must conclude that tho
good nature alluded to is a spurious
good nature, good nature of smiles and
pleasant words that mean little; a good
nature that does not think deeply or
love sincerely; n good nature that may
coexist with the most intense form
Of selfshness. There are natures In
whom this spurious amiability seems
TO be Unborn. Such people are sure to
be popular. They never offend or are
guilty of breach of good manners-
Their good nature fits them like a glove
without wrinkles. Nor do they take of
Tense easily. Why should they? They
have no prejudices to be rasped, no fine
sensibilities TO be wounded. and too
often but little principle. The world
calls them pleasant people," and
"easy 10 get on WITH" and they are
often really lovable; though sometimes
those very near TO them find them
'broken reeds" to lean upon In crisis
When this spurious good nature is
united to undue fondness OF pleasure,
cupidity, or unworthy ambition, the in
dividual becomes a power for evil, re-
quiring but temptation to make him a
dangerous member of society. Such a
character is very clearly portrayed IN
George Eliot's Tito Meiema," and
again II is summed up In the familiar
line: "He smiles and smiles and is a
villain STILL"
Too often cases Of spurious good ma
ture are cited by the ill-natured who
know themselves as such, in the way OF
clarifying, or at least palliating, their
own lapses Of temper. Such compari-
sons are hurtful and unreasonable.
The spurious coin does not depreciatc
the value of the real one OF which IL Is
an imitation, nor does the spurious
good nature detract from the beauty OF
real good nature which springs from ID
love of God and love OF man. II Is
undoubtedly better to be mn honest boor
than TO be specifically amiable; but It
Is best to be neither.
The desire 10 be agreeable Is laud-
able one, and no person should be de-
TERED from uniting such desire to en-
deavor through fear OF becoming a
hypocrite. Unless when principle is in
volved the control by win power of q
sudden impulse OF anger or displeasurc.
so that il may notbe observed by others
or gain Roadway over ones self, Is not
10 be false, or weak, or cowardly, but
rather 10 be true to the divine ideal
Where principle is concerned the case
Is only different in that the offended
person should let his disapprobation be
known in some way. We will SUPPOSED
| for instance, that some one in our pres
cnce speaks lightly OF something that
we believe in and hold sacred. There
are persons who seem to have always
ready that which proves TO be the"word
| fifty spoloen;" but 10 others the right
word IL matter OF exceeding diff
Guilty. Such moral emergencies require
tact as well as courage and conviction,
| and the blunt-mannered and hasty-
| tempered should do we'll TO remember
that there Is wrong as well as right
way OF doing right, and that a cause
may suffer injury from the manner OF
| It's defense.
II one could but love his principles
without loving them because they are
his, IL would often be easier TO defend
them good naturally. But the trouble
is the average person feels himself at
| tucked when his beliefs are questioned
or held up TO contempt: so that more
or less personal resentment is apt TO be
] mingled with his defense OF what he be-
lieves to be true and right. II Is not easy
to sink self In the performance OF great
duties. Evidently Paul referred to-
some triumph of this kind over his own
prejudices and merely personal feel
| ings when he spoke Of becoming all
things to all men that he might by that
means gain some
Does one wish 10 test the genuine
ness of his good nature, let him ask him.
self what it costs him in high resolve and
effort TO maintain II. The spurious
article Is cheap-"the result OF n want
of feeling" IL belongs TO moral power
| ty. The genuine bears the stamp OF
principle, and is n coin OF the realm OF
Heaven.-,Jane Ellis JOY, in Chicago In
terror.
| Marking Time.