Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-02-13

good see only the good and the evil only
the evil and the probability is that me
dlum opinion is the right opinion. Most
OF the people whom / know are doing
about as well as they can under the cir
cumstances. When / see people who are
worse than | am, I conclude that if / had
the same bad influences around me all my
life that they have had | would probably
have been worse than they now are The
work OF reform is the most important
w'rk, but many OF the reformers, dwell
ing on one evil, see nothing but evil and
they get so used to anathema they forget
the usefulness once in awhile of a benedic
ton. They get so accustomed to excor
iating public men that they do not realize
that never since John Hancock in boldest
chirography signed the Declaration of In.
dependence, never since Columbus picked
up the floating land flowers that showed
him he was coming near some new coun
try, have there been so many noble and
splendid and Christian men in high places
in this country as now. You could go into
the Presidents Cabinet or the United
States Senate or the House of Representa-
tives in this city and find plenty of men
dist prayer meeting, plenty of Senators
and Representatives and Cabinet officers
to start the tune and knee with the pen
itents at the altar. In all these places
there are men who could, without looking
at the book, recite the sublime words, as
den, Il believe in God, the Father AL
mighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and
in Jesus Christ" and from the Senate and
House of Representatives and the Presi-
dental Cabinet and from the surrounding
offices and committee rooms, if they could
hear, would come many voices responding
amen and amen"
Christian courtesy I especially commend
to those who have subordinates. Almost
every person has some one under him. How
do you treat that clerk, that servant, that
assistant, that employe? Do YOU accost
him to do that which you might kindly
ask him to do? The first words that the
Duke of Wellington uttered were, IF you
please" That conqueror in what was in
some respects the greatest battle ever
fought in his last hours, asked by his ser.
want if he would take some tea. replied,
"If you please" his last words an express
sion of courtesy. Beautiful characteristic
in any class The day laborers in Sweden,
passing each other take off their hats in
reverence. There is no excuse for boorish-
ness in any circle. As complete a gentle.
unhorsed on the road to Damascus and be-
headed on the road to Ostia-Paul, the
apostle. know that he might be so char
acterized by the way he apologized to Ana
MAS, the high priest. / know it from the
way he complimented Felix as judge,
L
thank myself, King Agrppa, because l
shall answer for myself this day before
thee touching all the things whereof 1 am
accused of the Jews, especially because ]
know thee to he expert in all customs and
questions which are among the Jews" l
know that Paul was gentleman from the
way he opened his sermon on Mars hill,
not insulting his audience, as King ,lames's
translation implies, but saying, eye men
of Athens. perceive that in all things ye
are very devout" | know he was a gen
tleman from the fact that when he with
others of a shipwreck, on the Island Of
Melita visited the governor of the island
he was most impressed with the courtesy
shown them and reported that visit in
these words: In the same quarters were
possessions of the chief man of the island,
whose name was Publius, who received us
and lodged us three days courteously."
And then see those words of advice which
he gives: Bear We one another's burdens;"
''1n honor preferring one another" Hon
or all men"
What mighty means of usefulness is
courtesy The lack of it brings to many
dead failure, while before those who pos
sess it in large quantity all the doors of
opportunity are open. You can tell that
urbanity does not come from study of
books of etiquette, although such books
have their use, but from mind full of
thoughtfulness for others and heart in
If those conditions be prosperous, a
gladness for the success, or If the condi-
tions be depressing, sorrow for the un.
favorable circumstances. All, this world
needs lighting up!
To those of us who are prosperous it IS
no credit that we are in a state of good
cheer, but in the lives of ninety-nlne out
of hundred there is a pathetic side,
taking off deficit. an anxiety, trouble.
BY genial look, by a kind word, by.
helpful action, we may lift a little OF the
burden and partly clear the way for the
stumbling foot. Oh. what a glorious art
it is to say the right word in the right
way at the right time!
If others lack courtesy, that is no rea-
son why you should lack it. Respond to
rudeness by utmost affablity. Because
some one else is a boor is no reason why
you should be a boor. But how few show
urbanity when badly treated! Human ma
ture says: can eye for an eye, a tooth for
a tooth. retort for retort, SANDER for SLAM
der. matreatment for maltreatment." But
there have been those you and | have
known who amid assault and caricature
and injustice have maintained the lowell
ness of blossom week in springtlme. Moth
ing but divine grace in the heart can keep
such equilibrium. That is not human ma
ture until it is transformed by supernal
influences. To put it on the lowest ground
you cannot afford to be revengeful and
malignant.
Hatred and high indignation are stages
of unhealth. They enlarge the spleen;
they weaken the nerves; they attack the
brain. Rage in man is one form of apo
plexy. Every time you get mad you dam
age your body and mind and soul, and you
have not such a surplus of vigor and en-
ergy that you can afford to sacrifice them.
So L applaud Christian courtesy. L
would put it upon the throne OF every
heart in all the world. The beauty of it
is that you may extend it to Others and
left in your own heart and life.
1t is like the miracle OF the loaves and
fishes, which, by being divided, were null
tplied until twelve baskets were filed
with the remnants. 1t is like torch,
with which fifty lamps many be lighted
fore II lighted the first lamp.