Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-31

only for our own mental and physical
comfort. and for the clearness of our
compilations. But there is wisdom, the
wisdom of foresight, in not forgetting
Character, like history, is likely to re-
peat itself and the glaring manifestation
Of q fault is a signpost the prudent VIII
heed. Forgetting the falsehood that mas
been told, the gluttony of drunkenness
displayed, the tattling discovery, the sell
fishness shown, is TO invite a repetition
OF the fault an invitation that Will prob
ably make ourselves the victims. NOT
forgetting does not mean the contemplate
resort of mean minds which they have
meanly named getting even The per-
son of noble character, which Is only
another term for one in whom self respect
lives and is active knows that to wreak
revenge is to sow boomerang. 1t Is
gun that kicks. The person who has got
even" pays for the sorry luxury in sick
ness of soul and body "The man or
woman who says 81 have waited and
= plotted for this and my revenge is
sweet" is lying TO himself or herself.
Revenge agrees with the body as well
as does a slowly, surely destroying poison.
Revenge is bitter. Not forgetting is
merely the response Of the mind to
what may happen.
The folly of mingling wisdom and I'M
wisdom lies in the statement: People
are not accountable for what they say in
anger" The soup is accountable for the
bits OF bread, the meat and vegetables its
violent boiling bring to the surface. The
bread and meat and vegetables are as
\ surely parts Of the soup, as is the water
in which they are boiled.
People are accountable for what they
say in anger. They utter in a rage what
they have thought before and wrath
gives them the courage TO say. And they
are responsible for becoming angry. The
drunkard is liable TO full censure and
punishment for what he does while in
his cups because he is responsible for
getting drunk.
They strike off at white heat the words
they have been heaping up in secret
thought chambers, unlovely storage, for
the time when they would not be afraid
TO speak them. The difference between
words spoken in moments of amiability
and those uttered in anger is a difference
not IN the spirit Of the speaker, but in
the degree Of fear of consequences with
which he Is inspired.
Tho law considers a man accountable
for what he does in anger. 1t does not
say 20 him: you killed this man while
you were angry. Therefore you were
not responsible" Instead it places man
slaughter, Staying dOha during a quarre
or in fit of rage. high in the rank o.
accountable crimes. Most states place Il
next to murder deliberately planned, ans
the punishment is prOpOrtionate.
Anger, like war, is a relic Of barbarism
The spectacle Of large bodies OF mel
shooting each other to death because
their countries could not agree about
national issue is hideous. The man will
eyes eblaze with wrath the woman Will
cheeks aflame and voice harsh or tremb
HHg with anger, is hideous. Both ar
horrible sights because they reveal IN
tnseaAoning beast let loose.
That life is the most successful tina
tries every case at the bar OF reason
That Is the most valuable citizen who de
elees what It is best to do and VIII,
calmly and infexibly does It.
Americans are only beginning to lear
economy. Poverty we have known an
hardships we have borne. bat how 4
eeonomiEs little things to great ends
an art whose rudiments We are only be
ginning to grasp. And one OF the prin
eipleA We have TO learn is that waste D
money 10 not 30 impoverishing as was.
OF emotion. II the slow, stAid, seriou
iolk OF Holland pulled down all the dixie
mat protect their low lying land and lie
the sea pour over and drown II we woul
say the patient little nation had gon
mad But that Is what we do for our