The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-11-16
A Mans Price.

cynical college student to yOpCS
professor.
He waited for reply, and as the
instructor said nothing he asked:
Don't you think so?''
If l did think so, l should hate to
admit it," said the professor Il could
not very well accept that theory for
all men without conceding it for my
self.
You remember the old fallacy con-
concerning the Cretan who said, All
Cretans are liars If all Cretans are
liars. this Cretan is liar; but if he
is liar he is not to be believed when
he says, All Cretans are liars. But
if he speaks falsely, and Cretans are
not all liars, perhaps this Cretan is
not liar"
Il viii answer you seriously, anG
I may not be entirely right about all
other men, but l have made a dan
gerous admission concerning myself"
Il wasn't exactly yearning for re-
view on logic said the student. I'D
just like to know what you think of it
as practical proposition. Isn't the
real difference between what we call
a good man and bad man a differ
ence in price?"
Il will assure you seriously, and
will say | do not think that is the
whole difference 1t may be a part of
the difference. You and I, who have
never had to face the terrible tempta-
tions that have overwhelmed some
other men, may well Judge them with
charity and pray to God that we may
not be led into temptation For as
every stick or beam has it's theoretical
breaking point, as you have learned in
your study of physics, SO l suppose
there is not man of us who has not
a point of weakness at which, if
tempted above measure, he would
yield. In that sense it may be true
probably is true-that every man has
his price,
THAT is what I meant said the
student.
81 don't think it was said his
teacher. Il am sure l do not mean
what l think you meant nor what is
commonly meant when it is said that
every man has his price. l thank
God that have known men who held
honor above all price, and who in
spite of human weakness would have
died before they would have betrayed
a trust
"It seems to me you contradict your
self, said the younger man
Il do not think so,' said his teacher
Il have conceded the theoretical break
ing point Of every mans resolution,
but have not conceded that it will
break, or that it does break. Very
many times oftener than it does it
does not break.
81 have trusted many men and few
have betrayed me. Although more of
them might have betrayed me if
tempted inordinately, still l do not
think most of them held their trust
at a price. This is my own conf
dence in myself, and in most men
about me, that am not holding my
self for price. And have one other
confidence, namely, that no man can
set that price but myself"
Doesn't the man who offers the
price set it,"
"He does not The man who prays
to God to be kept from temptation,
and who goes steadily about his duty,
not valuing his honor in terms Of any
thing marketable, is to all intents and
purposes above all price. He ranks
among the great and unpurchasable
things of life. the love of God, the
grace of Christ, the sacrifice Of mother
love, the glory Of integrity. And If he
sells anything it is not honor, but
himself.
"'Still as Of old,
Man by himself is priced;
For thirty pieces Judas sold
Himself-not Christ
And SO don't believe that all men
have their price. don't want to be-
lieve it of myself or Of my neighbors.
I still believe that Satan lies, and
that 1t is not true Of Job nor Of good
many men that "All that man hath
will he give for his life, nor yet for
the things of life.
Love and honor and duty are above
price, and believe a good many men
hold them 60. hope always to be-
lieve this, and l want to be one of
those men," Z