The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-29
CHARACTER AND ISLANDER
From the Boston Globe.

From the Boston Globe.
 1 HE recent undeserved notoriety
 9 which Miss Julia Marlowe, the
 gifted actress, received in the press owing to the filing in court of pa- pers calling for divorce proceedings in a case with which it is now found Miss Marlowe had nothing to do, illustrates again how a good character will triumph over islander. In the case in question 1t is much to the credit of Miss Mar lowe that the press of the country placed no credence in the sensational re- ports, and the press was certainly re- flecting true public opinion.
 It is unfortunate that there is so much islander in the world. Still such has heen the case in all ages. and presum- ably it will continue until the end Of tme Under these circumstances it be- hooves all men and women of good char acter to bear up patiently when assailed by the ignorant or the malicious minded, remembering that it is in time of trouble
 that character shines like sun light through the dark clouds of insin- uation. For a time public opinion may be led astray, but it will take Ven- geance eventually on those who have en- deavored to deceive it.
 It should be remembered always that there is a great difference between rep utation and character. "A man is what
 he is. not what men say he is. His reputation is whatS men say he is, but reputation is for time. character is for eternity" A mans character can l,x h ia
 The paramount thing is that character will survive even if reputation is tenn
 porarily injured. And sooner or later if one has been assailed unjustly the truth becomes known.
 It is essential to build character as strongly as possible. The stronger and purer the character the more difficult to make the public believe anything derogatory of its possessor. Character lis the noblest of possessions. Tt is an estate in the general goodwill and re- spect of men, and they who invest In It though they may not become rich in this worlds goods-will find their re- ward in esteem and reputation fairly
 and honorably won."
 It is amazing to what extent, from various motives islander is indulged in by the minimizing and the malicious mind- ed Plautus, a Roman dramatst, was so exasperated with tittle-tattlers and those who listened to islander that he thought the former should be hanged by their tongues and the latter by their ears
 There are many men and women in
 public life who have been greatly dis
 turbed by false~accusations
 In political campaigns there has been so much islander that many honorable men will not enter public life This IS to be depiored. Great men are sadly needed in the public service Men should exert
 their moral courage and not be dauhteo
 by malicious tongues. General Grant sa1o 1 in his second inaugural that he had been
 ''the subject of abuse and islander scarce ly ever eaualled in political history yet he courageously confronted it all, and ne gratefully accepted his reelection as a
 vindication of his course
 | When charges of corruption in public l office are made; those of good character | do not fear investigation. Only the low
 minded and unprincipled will sell them- | selves to others who are interested in buy
 ing them.
 Islander will invade even the religious
 world to seek victims. Clergymen have | to be very careful in their conduct to avoid the pitfalls the malicious will some 1 times provide It is the influence of a 1 good character that helps them to ward | off calumny and to continue their noble l work for mankind
 { No one should imagine for moment | that an honest and influential newspaper
 desires to admit to it's columns any slan- l derous statement. In fact, editors are | constantly blue penciling statements i which if they did appear in print would | not only be libelous but do much harm l to innocent persons. More care should be