The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-10-20

the ton As l stood looking at that
height gentleman told me that IN
1879 a Scotchman made up his mind
he would ascend 20 the top OF the Hair
Dome To ascend II would do no one
any good. IL would only cndanger his
own life But ascend II he would. So
ne won't and got lot OF iron pegs. lie
would drill one hole into the side Of the
Half Dome and then stick a peg Into
she hole Then ne would crawl up and
stand upon that peg and drill another
hole and shove I'm another peg until al
last after days OF weary work. DE
stood upon chat which is high" "Oh.'
/ said 20 myself. ''how like the foolish
actions Of that man are some Of our
actions, We risk our physical lives FOR
nothing Down no the seashore we
I swim away out beyond the life lines 70
| make people think we are brave. We 40
fishing ln cranky boats We climb
| dangerous heights We ride fractions
horses. We run needless risks 10 benefit
no one" Avoid that which is high.
10 wise. and slHm foolish and reckless
/ physical dangers Lovingly cautious
ibould we be in reference TO our phys
lcsl life.
Lovingly cautious also, should we
be in reference 70 our good names. II
the gilt frame which holds the arNstlc
masterpiece Is valuable, how much
I .-.-. ..,....t,,-r r,,t,at n,en nouhnur'g
Horse Fair" be than the wood which
/ holds the canvas Of the great French
/ animal painter? II the setting OF
iewG is valuable. how much more val
liable must be the pitt diamond,
which flashed from the golden hilt OF
| the court sword which Napoleon l.
wore on the day Of his coronationY II
a mans physical life is valuable how
much more valuable is his good name,
by means Of which that physical life
can Doe made Of some practical good 10
his fellow men as we'll as 20 himself?
And Yet just think how quickly some
are ready 70 risk their good names as
we'll as their physical existence,
Oh. my friends never allow your
good name 20 be linked 10 a shady
financial enterprise Never trife with
your good name by walking along
dangerous ledge on which your feet
might slip and you may be preclpitated
into the abyss Of disgrace. Ny father
many years ago impressed this fact
upon my mind He said: My son. as
n minister Of the gospel, in all proba-
billty you will never be financially
wealthy, but on account Of your good
name. unless you are careful. some
seheming men will try 10 drag you into
shady financial enterprises. Then you
will be disgraced. as was my dear
friend Schuyler Colfax, who met his
political death IN the Credit Mobilier
scandal"
Let me tell you how Schuyler Col
fax was politically ruined He was at
heart an honest man. He was promi-
TENT member Of the Christian church
For years bis name was the synonym
0f all that was good and true. My IA
Their told me that II a thousand men
bad come 10 him and before a column
Of Bibles a mile high had sworn that
Schuyler COlfax was dishonest he
would have denounced every one Of
them as a perIurer. He had known
Schuyler Colfax for years. He knew
he might be guilty Of an indiscretlon
but Of an intentional dishoneSty-nev-
or, What was hts indiscretion? Some
dishonest men were trying TO organize
fraudulent conspiracy under a guise
/ Of building the Union Pacific railroad
The company was capitalized at &c.
10000 In order 20 induce a gullible
public TO take stock the promoters Of
this company came and said to Vice
President Colfax, I'VE Will make you
a present of so much stock for the use
Of your name which will give US
standing In the community" Schuyler
CQlfax, being a professional man and
not a business man. was innocently
caught in the trap. He did not intend
10 do any wrong He thought the bust
ness enterprise Of building a transcOn-
ttnental railroad a worthy one He
thought the value Of his good name
worth the price offered But when
die ssoundrelly promoters of this com
paAy had filched the money out Of the
pockets of the American people and
Secamped the accumulated wrath OF
he people as a hurricane broke over
Schuyler Colfax's head, and he was
driven into political oblivion. "Now,"
said my father to me. never risk
your good name Never be drawn into
any financial enterprise In the out
come of which yOu cannot MS an honest
man face the world with clean hands"
Thus l say 10 you: Never risk your
good name. Never risk it by evil as
sociates Never risk ii IN shady finan-
cial transactions the full story OF
which you are not willing 10 tell the
world Be cautious. BE cautious of
your name for yourself. Be lovingly
cautious Of your good name for your
dear ones. Be lovingly cautious Of
your good name for the good you can
AV lNNA ltiApM ultus ANNAN Ahht MAASh |
is high. Run no dangerous risks.
But we must not limit our theme |
here. BE prayerfully cautious about |
your faith In God and your relationship |
TO GOD BE careful that you never do |
anything to endanger that deep. ear
nest gospel faith In Jesus Christ which |
you. learned at your Christian mothers |
knee. Re careful that you never go |
with those men and women who are /
accustomed 10 cast a slur upon the |
cross or 10 joke about the divinity Of |
Jesus Christ BE careful also that you
never read a book which will in any
way sap your religious vitality. know
some people like TO make the foolish
boast that they are strongmnded
enough not TO fear contact with evil
associates or evil books. Thomas JEFF
fersOn in his old age wrote a beautiful
letter 20 John Adams II went some
thing Ike this: Il thank you for the
book you have Just sent have made