The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-01-17

e.uhl the uemdHu.
In the cultivation of this habit OF
Christian courtesy let us abstain from
Joining In the work Of defamation.
1t Is bad streak In human nature
prefer to believe evil instead OF good
concerning any one under discussion.
The more faults a man has of his own
the more wiling ID he to ascribe faults
to others.
What a curse of cynics and pessi-
mists affllcts our time, afliicts all time!
There sre those who praise no one I'M
til he - dead. Now that he Is clear
under ground and heavy stone Is on
top of him ( ere is no possibility OF
his ever coming up again as a rival.
Some of the epitaphs on tombstones
are so fulsome that on resurrection
day a man rising may. If be reads the
epitaph, for the moment think he got
into the wrong grave.
There are two sides to every mans
character--a good side and an evil
side. The good see only the good and
the evil only the evil, and the proba-
bility Isl that u medium opinion is the
right opinion. Most of the people
whom | know are doing about as we'll
as they can under the circumstances.
The work of reform is the most
important work, but many of the re-
formers, dwelling on one evil, see
pnfh inrx 1,r,t fhaxr GOT nCQ6
to anathema they forget the usefulness
once in awhile of benediction. They
get so accustomed to excoriatiDJ pub
lie men that they do not realize that
never since John Hancock in boldest
chirography signed the Declaration OF
Independence, never since Columbus
picked up the floating land flowers
that showed him he was coming near
some new country, 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 repre-
sentatives in this city and find plenty
of men capable of holding an old
fashioned Methodist prayer meeting,
plenty of senators and representatives
and cabinet officers to start the tune
and kneel with the penitents at the
altar. In all these places there are
men who could, without looking at
the book, recite the sublime words,
as did Gladstone during vacation at
Hawarden, 81 believe in God, the
Father Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth, and in Jesus Christ" and
from the. senate and house Of repre-
sentatives and the presidential cabl-
net and from the surrounding offices
and committee rooms, if they could
hear, would come many voices re-
spending Amen and amen!"
Christian courtesy I especially COM
mend to those who have subordinates
Almost every person has some one I'M
der him. How do you treat that clerk,
that servant. that assistant, that en-
ploye? Do you accost him in brusque
terms and roughly command him to do
that which you might kindly ask him
to do? The last 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 servant If he would take some tea,
replied, IF you please" his last words
an expression of courtesy. Beautiful
characteristic in any class. There is
no excuse for boorishness in any cir
Gle. AS complete gentleman as ever
lived was the man who was endorsed
on the road to Damascus and beheaded
on the road to Ostia-Paul, the apostle.
l know that he might be so character
lied by the way he apoligized to Ana
Mas, the high priest. | know 1t from
the way he complimented Felix as
Judge and from the way he greets the
king, Il thank myself, King Agrippa,
because | shall answer for myself this
day before thee touching all the things
whereof | am accused of the Jews, es
pecially because l know thee to be ex-
pert in all customs and questions
which are among the Jews" And then
see those words of advice which he
gives: Bear we one another's bur-
dens;" Gin honor preferring one an
other" "honor all men,"
What mighty means of usefulness
is courtesy The lack Of it brings to
many a dead failure, while before
those who possess 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 a mind full of thoughtful
ness for others and a heart in SYM
pathy with the conditions Of others.
All, this world needs lighting up! To
those of lis who are prosperous it is no
credit that we are in state of good
cheer, but in the lives of ninety-niEe
out of hundred there is a pathetic
side, a taking off, deficit, an anxiety,
a trouble. BY genial look, by kind
word, by helpful action, we may lift
q little of the burden and partly clear
the way for the stumbling foot. Oh,