The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-29
Comments OnLiVing Topics
BY ARCHIBALD JOHNSON

BY ARCHIBALD JOHNSON.
A blustery, noisy man is hardly ever
strong. He appears to be- but when
the test comes he fails to measure M
to his pretenSions. The man who can
really move things is Invariably he
who holds his power in reserve. and
uses it only when a great occasion
calls it forth. Then he is effective and
Some writer recently asserted that
the farmers in the Piedmont region
have no money, but the eastern people
are flush. He is mistaken. These peo-
pie have plenty of money, but get
ting it out of them is another matter.
The eastern people are more liberal
out they are not more prosperous.
The North Carolina Baptist warns
the moral forces of the State of the
shreWd and foxy efforts the liquor peo-
pie are making to capture the Legis-
lature and undo the good work that
has been done for the cause of tenn
perance. The time for temperance
people to speak is right now 1t will
be too late after the nominations are
made.
We are surprised to see a DISPOSE
ton on the part of some of the poll
ticians to make warfare on the Watts
Law an issue in the coming campaign.
Well, let them raise this issue if they
choose. They will be wiser men about
six months hence.
The judge who is worthiest of COM
mendation is generally the one the bar
is willing to allow to leave town with
Il,
luton calls for another and not only
the Judge, but the solicitor, the sheriff,
and all the officers of the court are as
much entitled to praise, if they have
been faithful, as he who presides oyer
it. The papers contain no reading
more dreary than these fulsome reso-
lutions except, of course, the reports
that fill so much good space, of base
ball games. which is the most Wanton
waste of ink and paper in the world.
Judges are fairly we'll paid by the
State for their work, but if they were
not. these faded flowers from one or
two lawyers would be a poor substitute
for the lack of salary.
That Big I.
1t is a matter for rejoicing that in
certain directions, at least, the person.
al pronoun is falling into innocuouS
desuetude. This is especially notice
able in the conduct of our newspapers.
You remember how it used to be- If
an editor took a trip of a hundred
miles he needed a column to tell about
it. He mentioned all the painful de-
tails, and the more severely personal
he could make it the better it suited
him. He did not hesitate to refer i'll
the most complimentary terms to "our
n1.' or nII1- -
the same as if the public cared rap
whether he ever had a brother or
wife Now it is the rarest thing for
an editor to refer to himself or his
kinsfolk, and when his vanity does
get the better of his judgment his
readers smile as they read. This is a
pleasing indication of the retirement
of the ego-this craving to exploit the
personal affairs of the man who hap
pens to control the columns of q news
paper. We hail it as a good omen of
d better day. The best editor is he
who completely hides himself and all
that pertains to his personality. 1t
mighty near kills some folks to do it,
but the times demand that it be done.
We believe the tendency may be seen
in other directions also. The man or
woman whose conversation centers
around me" will find it hard to hold
an audience. People have less pa
thence than they used to have with
the personal pronoun. Whatever we
feel in our own hearts, we must mani
fest concern in the things of others
rather than in those of ourselves, if
we would win the favor of our fell
lows. Hence the dreariness of the tale
OF woe that comes from those who are
imposed upon, whom everybody
Sights" and who is the object of the
scorn of the neighborhood. The truth
with some people is that they have
the big T. so bad they have no time
or thought for the little Gu" If they
could see beyond themselves they
would never have the opportunity nor
the disposition to conjure up fancied
wrongs against themselves. Many a
Cine fellow has contracted this big T.
disease, which has grown with his
growth, until he becomes a pest and
nuisance in the community. The man
who saves life must lose it, and he
who would find happiness for himself
must sacrifice his own interest for
that of others. This is a strange doc
trine for some people, but it is the
only royal road that leads to real joy.