Evening star., 1902-04-12
T Ii [ N KING WELL
HABIT OF HAVING KIND
THOUGHTS OF ALL.
Seeing the Best in Everybody is a
High Road to Con-
tent
Copyright, 1902, by Grace Dafie Boyinn1

copyright 1902, by Grace Duffe Boylnn)
Written for The Evening Star
1t is a good thing to climb to the noun
tain heights Of our souls when we would
look out upon the world For from that
vantage ground everything is beautiful and
every creature good.
Go up to a point just below the clouds
on Pixies Peak and see that even Paradise
is not more fair than the sweet wales be-
meath you. Descend. and each downward
step reveals the bIemishes upon the face OF
nature. So it all depends on our point Of
observation how we see our fellow men.
If our own altitude is high one they are
quite to appear to advantage; and
while It is not reasonable to suppose We
can be forever In a position to look down
on the world, we can send our minds upon
high places and make all of our judgments
from their plane.
1t is much better to cultivate a habit OF
thinking well of people. The men and
women about us are a rule making
the same efforts that are making and
doing their best to get over the way with
out too many falls. We do not always
avoid stumbling: Neither do they; and i
often wonder If the great Judge above. does
not look upon our failures with the pity
We feel for little children who set their
weak, uncertain feet in unfamiliar ways
and fall and rise, and fall and rise again?
1t is so easy to be kind 1 wonder We are
not bubbling over with good will toward
everybody. The people who make zap our
little world are not answerable TO us for
what they do, and it is great waste OF
time and energy for us TO concern cur
selves in the affairs of others except when
we can perform neighborly services for
them. There is no need for us 20 futter
like flock of frightened pigeons when the
shadow of a shame falls in some door yard
near. The master of all the n0cks will
attend to that, with more of pity than,
perhaps We understand. II is not a mat
ter for our stern hands to remedy.
What right have to blame when a
mans falls from his place of honor? when
q woman has made a sorrow-iille ed mis-
take? 1t is a time to fiji the ways with
roses and not thorns for their pocr feet
to tread on. Sin brings its own punish
ment The woman under the shadow does
not need our scorn or our preaching. The
man in disgrace wrthes under the lash Of
conscience, the only whip of God. With
their faults and failures have poth-
ing to do. 1t is ours to strete our bands,
strong and electric with human sympathy
and take hold of theirs.
We may be kind: but we are not kind
enough. Not half kind enough.
Find Good Points.
In the heart of nearly every woman there
is magic plant ready to spring up at
need and cover the defects in the charac-
tiers of other people. Husbands are often
monopolists of this foliage; but il may
stray farther and veil the faults Of friends
and acquaintances from condemning eyes.
1t is tender vine and il blesses those who
cultivate IL in their breasts as well as those
who feel its cool and shadowing leaves upon
them We know 1t by the name OF charity,
and am convinced that it is the greatest
promoter of happiness in the world.
A man l knew had no intention OF de-
ceiving the woman who loved him regard
ing himself He was just an ordinary, no
account sort of person and he told her so.
But who ever heard of woman of her type
believing any such statement that? She
day and on another noted with what lazy
care he avoided stepping a wounded
beetle, so she at once idealized him into a
hero of chivalry, a champion of the weak
and helpless. He knew he was a fraud.
and sometimes admitted it. But after
awhile he began to share her admiration
for his qualities and finally concluded TO
let her love him. She had little money
and when they were married they went to
the Pacific coast and invested II IN saw
mill and began the manufacture of berry
crates and fruit boxes. They lived in
two-roomed cabin on the slope of a hill and
the woman would not have traded II for
mansion in heaven. She sang at her work
all day, and swept anu garnisbed the little
home for the delight of the man who
shared il, as a priestess scatters rushes ana
dew-sprinkled mint before Pagan god.
She sang like New England thrush and
sometimes he heard her from the mill and
said to himself:
II must be a pretty good sort OF chap.
There are not many men who make their
wives so happy.
And he believed Ii and she believed IL.
So what more was there to wish?
Then one day he was caught in a log
jam in busy little stream that made itself
a noisy partner of the firm and furnished
timber from camp far in the valley; and
when the rworkmen got him out and the
doctor had been up to the house and gone.
the woman felt that all hope and joy were
over. For he was paralyZed and likely 20
be helpless as long as he lived. But she put
on a brave face and you may be sure II
was a gentle one withal, and loving. She
arranged to carry on the work herself. The
mill had all their money and Ii needed a
keen and energetic director. But she
proved herself capable of being that. and
after she had fitted the pleasanter window
with flowers and blinds and drawn the In
valid up where he could take long looks
across the lovely land as far ae the bend
ing heavens she ran back and forth and
attended to making boxes In one place and
comforting a heart In another and carried
both along TO an unqualified success. Then
the seasons sped; and the man, suffering
no PAIN was well content. Her one ambi-
ton was to take him east to a specialist
and when he murmured:
I'm all right as l ami don't bother your
little head about me-" she gezed at him
with adoring eyes, whispering Of his divine
patience And she is looking at him and
whispering of his patience stfll-as please
God she may until the very end-from the
far heights.