The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-30

Every honorable biiness lIonorably con-
Quoted is a contribution to society. 9th
err men are the richr for the honest, en-
terprtsinc trader. II communI.y. ON
err mems homes archie safer for the pres
cnce of the skillfl doctor. l do not
know why we sfous limit the public ser
vice ito office iloldig or think of an Of
flee as a. trust beEtld any legitimate and
necessary business The distinction is
harmful. 1t is no true. Lawyer, cdl-
tor. doctor. teache minister, merchant
producer all thescflen touch me ana my
neighbors, sensitiver and permanently. l
am concerned in The quality OF their
work, its intcllectn and its moral Quail
ty. Sharp practicclt the bar, the lgflo-
rant practice of 1edicIne, lns!ncere OF
uninspiring preacng, sensational Jour-
nalieI,n. unbusIlessekc business OF any
kind. these thimgsbheapen the life Of
community. They nike it poor and mean.
They affect the wales as directly as tax
alton or the tart. | would as soon
live under a naHsSovernment as III d
community where te professions and Dls-
mess; had gone or into the hands OF
weak or sclleming ben. All OF W1llcil goes
to show how muctof a mans time, IN
ve7lticn, enthusiast and conscience ms
own work may atOrh in the interest OF
others. All privati business rghtiy con-
Quoted is public svice. Let no man be
diverted from thefecessary attention 10
his own business ~ any demands from
without In the fsguage OF poitlcal au-
rhority, that is paramount
In the distributor OF personal power
allowance must b made for some klhu
of personal identification with those
things which are t recognized value IN
society. l use theernp Identification be-
cause it is at onr broad and decisive:
1t does not prescr'e definite lnethod OF
form: it does ASSUME a very derlnlte az
titude or support ANY enc who mas &C
casion to analyzesociety Is constantly
reminded of. the lptairness in the dlsUl-
button of social b,deus. Social burdens
are carried upon he shoulders of the
willing. not altogether upon the should
ers of the able. Avery considerable mi
rrority withdraws tself, either through
ttlougiltlessness or yeliishness.
'THE IAULTS.
A Young man is .pt to make two mis-
takes in his estimae q organized socle-
ty His first mistake S IN underesu1na-
ting the value of the conventional, the
institutional. institutions acquire faults
like men. but they ne tie faults of great
ness, not O. littleress. Before anything
can Become an institution it must have
attained 10 great Gimelsions. reaching.
as Milton SAYS of the state, into the
stature of an honest MAJ Institutions
may fail in some presen, emergency, but
they stand for the best which men have
thought or done or suffered. They are
rich in the wealth of humanity. They
are as generous as thd- are wealthy.
The man who fails to ll0pr, to reverence
institutions, fails Decaus he lacks the
historic sense. imaginatia and insight
4 second mistake is understanding
the need Of support on tie part OF lhSti'
buttons. AS they We're hiilt up by Ell
fort and struggle and sacitice, they must
be maintained through he use OF the
human, the personal. AMI those who are
maintaining them need constant rein
1OrceInent.
I wish that I could make plain the
welcome whoh awaits eIery well-Quall-
fled young man who proposes to identity
himself with the institutions Of any com
nlunity, be it in city or country 1t is
not simply ,ne more worker. 1t IS the
incoming OF a fresh. inviScratf1g presence
AS in political body. ledged in it may
be by traditions, let a strong, coura geous
earnest man speak out, and mon may lis
ten all the more eagerly if they have tC
ask his name.
Our social obligations. certain-y at first
Go not make great demands upon US
They co not ask for large Tina or great