Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-03
SEI.FISHNEss

SELFTSHNESs.
That there are large number of un.
selfish people in this old world Of ours
we can all agree, but that the great ma
jority of folks are selfish and devoted
to self in all relations of life we must
admit.
| / have often said that a mans highest
duty to himself is to respect himself, be-
cause that covers the whole ground in
morals and manners, and when he knows
he is honest, truthful and just, he can.
not be hurt In this world at least Ht
may have enemies, people who will take
advantage of him in business and per.
haps defame him in other ways, but he
is resting on rock, and truth will finally
prevail If he is honest his future viii
be clear of strategems and spoils. He
can go TO sleep without the dread OF
scandal and exposure. He may die poor
but clear OF faint
| II he Is truthful his character will
stand in the midst of a crooked or por-
verse generation. If he, is Just he cannot
be selfish, or deny to others what he de-
nands for himself. He will be a good
son, a good husband, good father and
good friend in the sight of God and
man.
But great many people refuse to use
the claims of others and in their eager
ness for self, their vision is obscured and
they trample down the helpless.
have seen selfishness among children,
and their eagerness ito have and to hold, >
until am almost convinced that selfish
: ness is the real educator of the most of
mankindi Me and minel Me first of all.
I have seen selfish wives wreck the hap
piness of many households. They must
have, and they intend to have, in dress,
In display, in attention, from their hus-
bands, from their children and from
their servants, If they are able to keep
such help. They only married to be wait
ed on, coaxed, petted and pandered to at
home and abroad They can fall back on
Mysteries until everything is in panic and
they must be pacified. and they can only
be quieted by having their own way.
A selfish womans tantrums can ter
rorfze the entire establishment whether
per Sc can be given as satisfactory
reason for the majority of divorce cases.
The selfish man can terrorize both
wives and children He thinks 1t evil
dences manhood to see the wives cowed
into silence or the kids ready to dodge
when he rails at them. His word is law
and II the roofs could be lifted and a
peep taken at their selfish capers al
home. among the helpless and depend
ent he would often be horsewhipped by
his neighbors for downright tyranny and
cruelty, to the tender children about him.
And how they can smile and snirk in
general company! All their gentility is
for the outside, at home they are suriy
bears, or angry Doors.
| When you find two selfish heads to a
single family war is inevitable. 1t is
Obliged to come. noe viii be victor or
then a split.
| 1t is a hard thing, perhaps to say. but
sometimes the best thing that can hap
pen for set OF children is a split. when
selfishness rules the parents, and say
it with profound regard for the facts. the
best opportunities come to such chill
dren when such self-worshippers are
carried tothe cemetery.
They make everybody miserable and an
iritable,1 selfish parent can warp the
temper of the best child in the world
while the chances are that the children
will copy from their forbears and grow
up to be like them. the fact remains that
they ar efatally injured in the warp and
wool of their entire existence.