The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-03-30

Inc papers say enough OF InoSe WI
break windows. but why do they make
NJ mention of those who spend their
nights toiling over problems: Because
it wouldn't interest the public Yes.
when now and then one Of Them. a
medical student perhaps dies Il victim
to professional duty tine matter has
two lines in the Gailies. \ drunken
brawl gets half column with every
detail elaborated Nothing is lackina
but the portraits Of the heroes. and not
always that.
81 should never end were | to Try
TO point out to you ali that YOU must
20 10 see If you would see all You
would needs make the tour of society
at large. rich and poor. wise ana il
norant. And certainly you wouId not
judge 50 severely then. Paris is a
world, and here as in the world in
general. the good hides away while the
evil faUntS itself Observing only the
surface. you sometimes ask how there
cam possibly be so much riffraff WhCn
on the contrary, you look into Tie
depths You are astonished that in this
troublous, obscure and sometimes
frightful life there can he 80 mucl
virtue"
But why linger over these things:
Am | not blowing trumpets for those
who hold trumpet blowing in horror
Do not understand me so. My aim is
this. To nL
Ostentatlous goodness-above all. tC
make them love it and practice it
The man who finds his satisfaction il
things which glitter and hold his eyes
is lost. first, because he will thus sec
evil before all else then because he
gets accustomed to the sight of only
such good as seeks for notice. and there
fore easily suWumbs to the temptation
to live himself for appearances. Not
only must one be resigned to obScurity
lie must love it if lie does not wish t
slip insensibly into the ranks of tigu
rants, who preserve their parts only
while under the eyes of the spectators
and put off in the wings the restraints
imposed on the stage
Here we are in the presence of one
Of the essential elements of the moral
life And this which we say is true
not only for those who are called hum
Bile and whose lot it is to pass unre
marked; it is just as true, and more
so, for the chief actors. If you would
not be d brilliant inutility, Il man Of
gold lace and plumos. but empty inside,
you must play the star role in the sim
pie spirit Of the most obscure of yOm
collaboratorS. He who is nothing worth
except on hours of parade is worth less
than nothing. Have we the perilous
honor of being always i'll view. Of
marching in the front ranks? Let us
take 50 much the greater care of the
sanctuary Of silent good within us; let
us give to the structure whose facade
is seen Of our fellow men 4 wide foun-
datiuu Of simplicity, of humble tidel-
ity, and then, out of sympathy, out OF
gratitude let US stay near our broth
ers who are unknown to fame. We
owe everything to them, do we not?
call to witness every one who has
found in life this encouraging expert
ence- that stones hidden in the soil hold
up the whole elifce All those VIII,
arrive ut having Il public and recog-
niZed value owe it to some humble
spiritual ancestors. TO some forgotten
inspirers. y small number of the good
among them simple women. peasants
vanQuiShed heroes, parents rs modest
as they are revered. persOnify for Us
beautiful and noble living; their exam.
pie inspires us and gives us strength
The remembrance of them il forever
inSeparable from that conscience be
fore which we arraign ourselves. In
our hours of trial we think Of them
courageous and serene, and our bur
dens tighten. In clouds they compass
us about. these witnesses invisible and
beloved who keep us from stumbling
and our feet from falling in the battle
and day by day do they prove to us
that the treasure of humanity is its
hidden goodness.