The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-11-18

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\ and giving them a fictitious value.
This sin is the more odious, as it is
n not the result of sudden impulse
y of temptation, but is perpetrated i'll
cold blood by sharp witted men. who
n covet the esteem of their fellow-citi-
zens. They use all kinds OF specious
arguments to catch the unwary in
their tolls and inflict untold misery
on a too contlding community.
Sixth l might also allude here to
5 dishonest presidents and cashiers of
banks and business house clerks.
Their number. thank God, is very small
compared With the army of loyal and
upright officials.
These unfaithful officers yield to the
criminal desire of growing suddenly
rich. They secretly appropriate the
funds of the institution in which they
are employed with the vague intention
( of restoring them. They gamble in
! stocks and other securities, hoping to
realize large profits. Their first venture
is a failure. They cast the dice again
and. again, each time stalking larger
sums with the same results, till they
have gone down the stream of specula-
ton too far to retrace their steps and
hide their iniquity. They involve them
selves in irreparable ruin and degrada-
ton. All the waters of the Mississippi
could not blot out the stain. A name
honor Is now whispered with bated
breath or covered with the charity Of
silence. The last chapter in their sad
history is usually suicide, exile or the
penitentiary.
Oh, if in the first instance they had
spurned the tempter they would have
escaped unspeakable torture, and
would have lived and died honored by
their fellow-citizens, and possessing
what is infinitely more precious than
wealth, the legacy of spotless repu-
tation.
There is story told of Il poor wom-
an, who, in returning one day from
market, was bewailing her poverty, for
her scanty means were exhausted.
While brooding over her condition she
stumbled and fell and in the fall her
outstretched hand touched a purse ly-
ing in the road containing 100 gold
crowns. Her first sensation was one
of joy that she had found a treasure
to relieve her pressing wants. But
on rejecting that the treasure-trove
was not her own. she determined to
restore it to the owner. a few days
later, having learned that q reward
she FASTENED to give the owner his
purse and to receive her reward.
But the nliser was reluctant to part
with the 10 crowns, and he falsely
maintained that the lost purse had
contained 40 crowns when she found
1t. This she Indignantly denied, SOL
EMMY declaring that it contained 100
crowns when she found it. The dis
pute was referred to a civil tribunal.
The Judge, after hearing both sides,
gave a decision worthy of Solomon.
You maintain, sir" he said, to the
man, that your purse contained 10
crowns when you lost it. Evidently
the purse which was found is not
yours: And you, my good woman"
he said to the finder. swear that the
purse you found contained only 100
crowns. 1t is yours. Keep it till the
true owner Is found"
have spoken of the sin Of dishon-
esty. Let me now say a word about tho
honest citizen. All honor to the mer-
chant or professional man who has left
behind him a clean record.
The man of business who has never
soiled his hands with illgotten wealth;
VINO has never taken undue advantage
of his neighbor in monetary transac'
ton; whose word was his bond; thu
est debts: who has never sheltered
himself behind !; legal technicality t
escape Il financial obligation; the maj
who in every vicissitude of trade ant
commerce, in adversely as well as pros
perity, has maintained the honor o
his good name-in a word, all homo
to the man who has passed throug
the peris and battles of commercial
life with a character unblemished-
such man, I hold, is more worth
of our esteem and veneration than tn
victorious general who returns in tri
umph from a prolonged war; Fo
surely business campaign is usual
more protracted and requires moi
persevering energy and courage tina
a military conquest Pence hath he
victories not less renowned than war
Listen to the eulogy which Hol
Scripture pronounces on such Il mar
BLESSED is the rich man that is four
without blemish; who is he and we wi
praise him, for he hath done wonderf
things in his life: who could hay
/, transgressed and hath not tram
crossed, and could do evil things ar
hath not done them. Therefore a
his goods established in the Lord, al