The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-25

It's Snnpie, ueSpMrink ue protunuis, WI
strike an echoins chord In the heart
of all those who have had or may hav
errlng children---the true. unnauntin
sentiment OF those who have bee
smirched by their own sad actions
"tteld Up veur hssdl"'
NEW LIGHT ON AN OLD TRUTH
i II one were minded ON this day o
preaching to attempt a short lay ser
mon "A good name Is rather to b
chosen than great riches" would be
pertinent text, Not that there is any
thing new to say upon subject whlcl
human experience from the beginning
has abundantly confirmed. which ever!
code OF morals, every standard OF so
ciety accepts and yet. as In man,
other phases OF life, the lesson old 4
levery new Perhaps In this, the riches
and most rapidly growing country o
the world in material wealth. wher'
lriches seem to be the sole measure ant
ambition. II is worth while even as q
twice told and reiterated tale 20 harl
back TO the homely truth OF the scrip
lures and remember that until human
nature essentially changes Il win al.
ways be as true and inexorable,
The exposures In western state. the
prisons OF two states waiting for the
guilty. Is an object lesson which may
well be laid to heart, not only by those
invested with trusts and with financial
responsibilities, but by those seeking to
compass In every possible way the ap-
aren't advantages OF riches and great
possessions. II Is rare. fortunately. In
the current OF human affairs. that err
rors so wholly culpable are recorded,
and one hardly knows whether to pity
the weak cupidity or condemn the un-
scrrupulous ambition which culmlnat-
ed In the wreck OF innocent homes
scattering the savings OF thrifty life
times. In this part Of the world a
banker who should unhesitatingly lend
on a s500.000 note. no matter by whom
It was signed. without asking the max
er. the easiest and simpulest OF all
methods. to ascertain it's value, would
be regarded as qualified for an lnsti-
tuition where the restraint Is mllder
but no less effectual than in prisons
and penitentiaries. II seems past be-
lied that men entrusted wit hthe funds
and the future of their fellow citi-
zens can be so absolutely lost to every
sense OF honor. so forgetful OF the first
principles Of common sense. The fact
appears to be. however. that there Is
in every purely human experience a
certain factor OF negligence. Of para
lyzed or suspended mentality which
causes railroad disasters. bank col
lapses and many OF the unexpected. in
exorable things which We call accl-
dents. Apparently there is In the ag-
gregate human experience certain
and logical manner. which must be
taken into account. and In these err
ratio reflections from the standard
come many of the calamitles OF the
race. The disposal OF the Cleveland
and Oberlin cases. which have filled so
much newspaper space in the last few
days. will from this point on be per-
fectly simple and commonplace, The
romance Is all out OF the situation: the
routine of the laws delays always dulls
the edge OF public interest, and IN the
end simply one line more will be al
ded to the long list of lefalcations an
other wrecked reputation will fall into
and possibly some peniten-
tiary's convict list will be increased
one number but whether any or all
of these things happen is OF little mo-
ment.
The other illustration OF the scrip
tural truth is here In Astoria, in the |
death Of Professor Lyman. VINO for |
years had been large arc on the
Astoria horizon. That, too, Is nothing
out of the common, sudden as II was.
The significance In the incident is the
tribute without distinction
Of party. to the essential sincerity the
honesty. the domestic virtues
Df the man whose name, perhaps, was
more closely associated than airy other
with the public and educational life Of
Clatsop county for the last generation.
Allowing full effect to the good rule to
'ay nothing but good Of the dead, elo-
Iuent public tributes paid to MIN who
vas honored and loved are con, !ncirg.
rhe substance Of the matter seems to
,e, and there is nothing new in that
'ither, that It is not what We get or
What we do, but what we are, that
cunts, and good name Is worth yll It
osts. both to have and to leave.
- II
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM. K