Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-01-29
just the opposite of what 1t oush. to

just the opposite OF what II ought to
be.
Character judged by Associated
The father OF great English preach
er taught this lesson to his son. Some
time after his sou, then u very young
man, was married his father visited
him. After he had passed through and
examined the different rooms OF the
house he said: "My son. there is one
mistake about your home. 1 see moth
ing In the furniture. in pictures upon
the walls or books upon the table to
lead me, IL 1 was stranger to this
home. TO judge whether you belonged
TO God or to the devil In every room
and upon every wall you should al
ways have something to prove to your
guests that you are child OF God. A
mans Christian life should be mani
tested in the furniture OF his house as
well as by his outside surroundings"
What that Christian parent said I'm ref
erence to a mans domestic life is es-
sentially true in reference to his out
side human affiliations. A wicked
mans inner character can nearly al
ways be judged by his conspicuous
avoidance of noble associates. By your
intimate friends your Christian life is
to be judged as well as by the words
that you speak.
But a wicked mans actions have a
positive as well as a negative signih-
canoe. If by the absence from ali good
associates mans character rests I'M
der a dark cloud, then by his bold and
reckless defiance OF all the great moral
influences of the day his wicked life Is
to be judged also. II is one act to sin
in secret and to be ashamed of your
sins. 1t is a far more heinous act 10
publicly parade your sins and come to
a depraved condition, in which you do
not seem to care what people may say
in reference to your life or how by
your bold example they may be led
astray through your evil conduct.
Depravfty Hidden.
This indictment against the actions
tive because, even in the lowest forms
OF outward vice. by the Language of
action" the wicked man nearly always
wants to appear little better than he
really Ia. Theodore Roosevelt, who has
been a student Of beasts and birde and
flowers, says that this characteristic to
appear better than they are is not al
ways true of all the Inhabitants Of the
natural world as II Is OF men. Once,
when visiting Nashville, Tenn. he
heard a hooking bird, whose reputa-
ton for the most part rests purely
upon his ability for mimicry, all a
whole night with sweetest music. Upon
the tree just outside his opened window
the president saw and heard him.
Sometimes" wrote Mr.. Roosevelt, "he
would perch motionless for many min
utes, his body Quivering and thrilling
with the outpour OF music. Then he
would drop softly from twig to twig
until the lowest limb was reached,
when he would rise fiutterIng and leap
ing through the branches, his song
never ceasing for an instant, until he
reached the summit OF the tree and
launched into the warm, scent laden
air, floating In spirals with outstretched
wings, until, as il spent, he sank gently
back into the tree and down through
the branches. while his song rose into
an ecstasy OF ardor and passion" That
midnight song seems TO have given the
president higher appreciation or the
powers Of the hooking bird. The song
ster, warbllng In the darkness and ST.
lence of the night, showed that 1t had
more harmony and melody in its being
than Its nearer had previously suppos-
ed. But unhappily, the converse Is
generally true OF human beings. It Ia
their better nature that they show I'M
der observation. 1t is when they think
that their friends do not see or hear
them that their worst characteristics
are displayed. Many a man whose life
when under observation is irreproach-
able shows. when the restraints of pub
lie opinion are removed, a capacity for
heinous and bestial sin.
The Wicked Worse Than They Seem.
AS wicked person is nearly always
worse than he seems, 1 put this blunt
question 10 you: "Oh. sinner, with fro
ward lips. how dare you desecrate
Gods holy Sabbath? How dare you.
without blush upon your cheek, be
seen entering the saloon or be known
to'pass your evenings In a disreputable
haunt, where the name OF Christ IS
sneered at and rldiculed2 How dare
you gieefully boast OF those sins about
which dare not speak In pubiief Do
you not know that by your Language
OF action" you are not only destroying
yourself, but others also7 Take the ad-
vice once given to Thomas Paine. Aft
er the noted infidel had written his
A On n -
manuscript to Benjamin Franklin to
ask for his criticism. After Franklin
had read 1t he commended its literary
qualities. Then he said: Thomas
Paine, 1 would never print that book.
would throw that manuscript into
the fire. If the human race IL so sim
full now, how greatly mssnified those
sins Will become IL the bulwarks OF
Christianity are taken away. BY that
work you will not only destroy others,
but yourself. He that splits against the
wind spits In his own face" Like
Thomas Paine, by the Language of
positive evil action" man not emily
destroys himself, but others. Inevi-
tably tho world suspects that a mans
inner life Is even worse than its out
ward expression.
Men sometimes have not the courage
to commit the crimes they desire, but
by their actions incite others to COM
NIT them; but God and man hold them
accountable for the acts OF their
agents. Az Henry II. OF England,
goaded by the arrogance OF Thomas
Beckett. connived at bis murder and
was punished and Inundated as Sc
verely as IL be had committed IL with
his own hands. 80 those who use other
men and profit By their crimes are re-
sponsible for them. Like the usurper
OF Naboth's vineyard. he does not slay
with his own hands the Jezrselits; but,
like Ahab. he shuts his eyes and allows
another to commit the crime he him
SELF Is too cowardly to do. HE wink
eth with his eyes may mean '.she
wicked man shuts his eyes to a crime
which Is being committed In his
name"
Mans Responsibility.
"Oh," says the candidate for Office,
Il am an honest man. ] never lee a
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