The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-01-26
and they are known by their strength
in moments in which men without
character show fear.

and tney are known by their strength
in moments in which men without
character show fear.
Gratitude, says our Judge, is, Of all
human burdens the heaviest to carry
The lips prate of gratitude easily. but
the heart finds it hard to Practice it.
1t is so rarely shown, that he who
receives a token of recognition for
past favors, should esteem it at a
greater price than the favor conferred.
Many people treat debts of the heart
as they treat those of the exchequer;
they wish to get rid Of them as soon
as possible, forgetting that he who
wishes to rid his heart of the sense of
gratitude is already ungrateful. For
getful souls very readily become de-
based and lose their sense of the high
er good. Contempt, it is satisfactory
to hear, is most displayed among those
who are really contemplate one to the
other AS 1t is straight there, it is
clear that among the right minded, it
cannot have much place. Among the
good, contempt is really pity which
scorns SO base a feeling as the con-
tempt Of those who have fallen. Real
contempt is the contempt Of ones own
weaknesses, which ultimately leads to
the practice of the heroic virtues and
the repression Of ones lower inclina-
lions.
Resignation, declares NJ. Crepon, is
the easiest Of all recommendable vir-
tues: easiest to recommend to others,
hardest to practice oneself. Those who
are most inclined to preach it, are
those who, in most cases, have rarely
hardest to practice oneself. Those whose
first inclination is to revolt; to resign
oneself, therefore, is the greatest sign
Of character and it is one OF the great
est efforts of the soul. It by no means
signifies a lack of courage for the big
ger fight that must eventually be
fought. 1t is not despair: resignation
is the truest sign of hope; it means the
acceptance Of the ordeal, submission
to the will Of God; it is all unwaver-
ing certainty in the ultimate coming
of Divine Justice. 1t is the sign of
self, domination, than which, as the
philosophers declare, no earthly con-
quest is as great. Resignation is the
true wisdom that knows that God will
decide in His own good time. Poverty
is said not to be a vice. On the con-
trary, to small earthly minds, it is
the worst Of vices. Everything is par
doned to the rich; nothing is forgiven
the poor. The poor mans life is
passed between disdain Of some anu
the pity of the rest. Against disdain
it is possible to fight by returning it;
1t is impossible to fight against pity.
Selfishness is better defined as the
incarnation OF that hateful word "I.''
In public life the selfish man is the
elephant, without that animals sagac-
>ity; in private life, he is the bear with
out that animals regard for his Off
spring or those that surround him.
Malevolence is a much misunderstood
word. The calulnniator, for example
invents falsehood; the back slanderer
retains evil; the n1alevolent supposes
it to be true. It is easiest to suppose
that pretence lies behind all good
works and actions. Before his supe-
riors, the 1nalevolent is obseuuious,
before his equals, he is correct and u
good fellow; to his interiors, he is
overbearing and behind all he is
treacherous and evil-tongued. When
others speak We'll, he will pretend to
have seen deeper than anyone else.
Cleverness is a talent i'll people that
has to be watched. Clever people too
often forget that honesty is a virtue.
Cleverness is, in the man, a superior
ity that is emphasized by self-adver-
tise1ment. The clever man without
conscience is the 11ighwayman who
prefers snort cuts.
Gossip has yet to discover its mi
crobe. Above all the lymph must be
ready by the time the microbe APP
pears. The gossip is a most danger
GUS person, be he man, be she woman.
They are to be known by their illinlit-
able assurance. The gossip must speak
and if you must have your foibles
known become acquainted with a gos-
sip; he will repay your confidence. in
his ability to dissect you.