Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-05
Miseellaneoas 8eadins.
THE FOLLY OF CRITICISM.
Pastine That Belongs to People Who
Attend to Other Peoples Business.

Attend to Other Peoples Business.
| "Of all the cants which are canted
in this capting world-thoush the cant
of hypocrites may be the worst-the
cant of criticism is the most torment
ing!" When Laurence Sterne wrote
those words over a century ago he
must have been in position to realize
their true import, and one can imagine
the straits to which he was reduced
to give so heartfelt expression to such
q truism. What he said is as true to-
day as it will be tomorrow and In all
the days to come, as when he first said
| II. AS a rule, criticism is unlimited
and therefore, unwelcome, and In most
cases it is forced upon its unwilling
victims. It proceeds from a variety OF
motives. Sometimes the critic, moved
by a sense of his own superiority, be-
slows his opinion, with cutting sar-
casm hard to endure; sometimes ne
criticises Just for the sake of humiliat :
ing one who has probably accomplish
a
sometimes he does not know what ne
is talking about, but says 1t just the
same: and sometimes, but very, very
seldom, he really criticises from mo-
tives Of kindness and friendly interest.
The latter disposition, however, Is SO
rarely evidenced that 1t need hardly
be considered in any discussion OF the
general subject. OF course, when a
painter, for example, has produced a
canvas upon which he has lavished the
greater part Of his time and talents
requests a brother artist to criticlse
his work: or when an author who has
written a story which, perhaps. is the
fruit of months Of earnest labor, places
II in the hands Of a worthy critic 10
pass Judgment, the circumstances are
different and the many helpful sug-
gestions that result will be of the
greatest benefit. 1t is not this kindly
criticism, however, that we have In
mind today, but rather that carping,
offensive sort that obtrudes itself upon
every class Of human endeavor.
It is about the easiest habit in life
to acquire and perhaps, the hardest TO
relinquish, and, as a rule about the
only qualification possessed by
would-be critic is his total unfitness
for the position. However often we
hear the expression, IF I were in his
place, would do so and so," when, as
a matter Of fact, the self-appointed
mentor knows absolutely nothing OF
the subject he so freely criticises, al
though no power on earth could make
him acknowledge his ignorance. This
is particularly true in all business en-
deavor. Take as an Illustration the
case Of a daily newspaper, in the max
ing of which entire familiarity with
multitudinous details and large ex-
perience are absolutely essential. Yet
we do not suppose there is a man in
the community in which it is publish
ed who does not firmly believe he
could produce a vastly better paper,
and that, too, in the face Of a total
lack Of comprehension Of the necessi-
ties of the case. OF course newspa-
per is unquestionably the most inVit-
ing target for public censure, and 1t is
remarkable how many brilliant minds
have been lost to the world of jour
nalism-measured by their own juds-
ment BY the same token, the man
who probably has never seen the in
vide Of a railroad Office Is the one most
apt to offer gratuitous advice to its
officers as to the best conduct Of their
property, and in the same way the busy
merchant, concerned only in the man
agement Of his own affairs, is contin-
ually harassed by criticism Of his
methods and suggestions. 1t is said
that "the streets in old Jerusalem were
clean because everybody swept in
front Of their own door," and it may
be that in our solicitude for our
neighbor's welfare we rashly neglect
our own interests.
Very few know how much they
must know in order to know how little
they know" is a good old axiom which
seems to have been lost sight Of, but
which is distinctly applicable in these
progressive times when nearly every
other person imagines himself his
brothers keeper and essays to should
er the responsibilities of the world. If
enough of the wisdom of the years
that pass so quickly could only filter
through the experience they bring to
make us realize how little we under
stand the practical things Of life, per-
haps we would not be so quick in our
judgments Of others, or so certain OF
the irfallibility Of those judgments.
Often a man after due consideration
pursues a certain course in life that
may not meet with the favor Of his
neighbors. He may or may not be
right, but at all events, he has the ap-
proval Of his conscience, and that, af-
ter all, is the best and safest guide to
true living. 1t is impossible to please
everybody all the time. If person
could accomplish such an amazing feat
he would belong in heaven, which is a
long way off from this world of ours,
and when a man, whether in social,
business, or political life, bases his
actions upon the high plane of con-
scientious performance of duty ne has
nothing to fear from the sharp tongue
Of criticism except the annoyance aris-
ing from the knowledge that the
would-be architects of his fortunes are.
forever keeping tab upon his actions.
1t is so easy to find fault and, withal,
such a relief to heap upon the shoul-
ders of others blame for anything that
may chance to go wrong in life, that
we are tempted to believe that those
who pursue the practice must extract
from it a certain degree Of gratifica-
tion, If not actual pleasure. This
thought, however, would seem to
challenge the true philosophy of life,
for why should anyone really want to
indulge in criticism? 1t Is habit that
has little to commend it; it reflects the
narrow egotism Of the one who crit
icises and in the end places him upon