Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-08-15
lpEsslMlsM GONE MAD.

Au " iGCSht ioOuC VI Tue tNcW VI "
4 Sun there appeared n remarkable
communication from Il New Jersey
reader of that paper, who argues
that the best place for the man who
prefers the right way of living to
the wrong, Is at the bottom Of the
river. He declares that h,ving seen
more men succeed who have employ
ed the wrong means, rs they are
identified In the Sunday schools, he
would have the teachers of the young
add to their instruction Il wholesome
respect for the wrong. IF MI men
were sharp" lie says, there would
be no sharpness" He then goes on
to ask what the truth Is ami FUR
nishes this answer: 1T pays to do
wrong. both while IN doing 1t and In
The end; 1t pays 10 do wrong and
repent of it and reform; 1t pays bet
ter to do either one than to do right
from the start. How much more
quickly does the reformed man have
the hand Of help extended to him
than tho unfortunate virtuous. A
man can live wicked life for years
and ut the end of the time lind mora
persons willing to help him II he is
found ont than one who lives well
and truly during the same time and
through misfortune finds himself
obliged to solicit help. Did not the
Lord Himself declare that the nine.
tty and nine counted as nobodies. the
sinner alone being OF note? Twas
ever thus. Honest effort sneaks by
tho wall; scheming travels In an au.
tomobile. with megaphone and
every sign board In the land bears
{ Its yociferous appeal TO crcdulity and
unsophistication In posters from ten
to twenty feet in height" He pro-
ceeds to state that he has done his
level best to do right, and while not
n a pesslmist is confident that his
Il proper summer anu winter resort
at the bottom Of the river,
The New Jersey pessimist makes
the by no means uncommon mistake
of thinking that wealth Is the sole
aim OF mankind and that success and
3contentment is measured by the size
OF ones bank account. Such n doc
trlna Is fatal to human happiness and
( upon It's unsnbstantial foundation
has been built most of the wrecks
which strew the shores of time. Can
q any one doubt that President Stems.
8land Of the failed Milwaukee Avenue
Bank would endorse the Jersey
mans platform, or that even the
]: bucket shop manipulators who were
4 members of the conspiracy to de-
Z fraud the depositors of the bank can
4 secure much enjoyment out of their
ssi'Egotten gains?
There may be n shadow of reason
Il for the conclusion reached by the
SUMS correspondent. 1t some times
seems that men and women are more
ready to help picturesque villain
than the honest plodder whose yir
Ftues classify him among the common
place, There are two reasons for
Il this: The first Is that human nature
naturally Graves the abnormal and
& tbs appeal in behalf of the black
81 sheep may meet more ready re
5;Esponse for that reason. Then, too
1.-The man who wishes to do righ
usually has too much self-relianc,
Sagd pride to go around asking fo
charity The price which one has I,
4, 81 nay for the sort OF assistance whici
gaes to the reformed" crook Is dear
han the honest man can realize.
l3Sss N one Of the Psalms David says
Sssss have been young and now am old
y yet have I not seen the righteous foi
saken, nor his seed begging bread.
& That was not a half-baked theory, b,
Che experience OF an old man VIII
e. had seen much of life. Leayin
Estde all question of morality and {
A q q q future Y estate, there can be n