Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-13
ON GETTING EVEN.

One of the rules we see faithfully
applied daily. in every walk OF life,
is the rule of retaliation. People call
it getting even"
Just wait, my times coming,
some one says. then We'll see;' or
'Tll pay her back" and III get even
with himl" are expressions common
ly heard.
The principle is the same in all.
If any one Injuries you, strike back.
If any one menaces you or wrongs
you in any form, get even by IN
hicting at least an equal injury-and
greater if you can-in your turn.
| In this way the balance between an
individual and his fellows is kept
true. At least such seems to be the
general impression.
"The child is father to the man
according to Sancho Panza. Chill
dren's actions foretell their future
years and reflect with unerring ac-
curacy the Inherent principles OF
those of ripper years with whom they
have to do The idea of getting even
comes out in the You hit me, and
I'll hit you of the school boy or the
little girls plant Leave me alone
or III tell my mammal
OF course, the principle of retail
alton among children usually takes
physical form, and as such creates
phase of the subject worthy of at
tention in itself The question OF
fighting among children will therefore
be discussed in later article.
ITO reshume" as Terrence Mulva-
ney would say. According to the Mo
sale law, there must be an eve for an
eye and tooth for a tooth. In the
primitive existence of the patriarchs
rules strict but laid along simple
lines were enforced for the protec-
ton of individual rights.
1t would seem from study of the
Biblical narrative that the rules We're
given in the first place for didactic
as well as ethical reason. Before the
rights of the individual could be pro-
tected they must first be defined.
The nations before Israel had believ
ed and practiced that might was
right and the stronger should rule.
Not so with the Mosaic rule. In
those wonderful books where the di-
rection for the daily lives of Israel
are SO minutely given, what the indi-
vidual may and may not do are deter
mined by moral instead of physical
power. But the question of retail
alton was there also, though in an
other form. The injured might have
redress in various ways, according TO
the injury inflicted.
1t was long step from the prim-
eval savage to Jesus. the expounder
OF the law of love.
One of the great stumbling blocks
in the spiritual progress Of many
lives is the failure to apply the teach
ings OF the Nazarene 10 every day
existence. Many will give of their
substance to the church, but will not
turn the other cheek. Many will eX
pend time and money in the service
of the widow and the fatherless, but
| love their enemies ?''-never That
is too much to expect. Thus there
has grown up a traditionary interpret
alton of the Colder Rule, Whatsoever
men do unto me. even so will ] do
unto them"
| 1t is very much easier to resent
words or deeds of others which in our
judgment are injuries against us, and
so resenting, to take another step to
retaliate. But after all is over and
we have had our innings, so to speak,
what have we accomplished? Our
.evengeful instincts have been arous.
ed, and shoulder on sullenly, but sat
isfaction there is none Revenge is
s'nce no human being is infinitely
just. There is ever sense Of
meanness in a triumph at another's
expense, and we wish. though usually
unacknowledged. that the getting
even" had been left alone
| What use is it, what good will IT
do us-this getting even? Because
some one has wronged me, shall |
add to the evil already wrought az.
other? Besides, in retaliating we
injure ourselves more than those W,
| would revenge ourselves upon. In
giving free rein to hatred malice and
all uncharitableness we turn loose an
army of destroyers of our own char
acter and peace.
After all, we are our own enemies.
No one nor anything can injure us
unless We let them. Neither life
nor death, principalities nor powers.
nor things present nor things to
come" can harm us unless we will it
so. EDITH B. NJ. YOUNG.