The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-01

sD0D |sAPARRs:
COLUMN !
,.LocAL EVENTS AND INTER-X
, VIEWS ABOUT %FAlRMoNT%
J, FOR READERS OF "THEI
HOME PAPER :
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-cuRRsToNE oPiNloNs.-In a
recent grand jury charge in this coun.
~ the judge OF the Circuit Court
made 4 rather caustic allusion to what
eh demonlnated 'Curbstone Criticism"
1t was very timely. There Is no ex-
cuse for men Of intelligence to accept
as true the idle rumors that are set
afloat by those whose sole purpose is
to defy or hinder the reasonable and
proper operations Of the law and go
peddllng them about the community
with intlammatory comment without
regard to whether they are true or
false.
There ought to be n very sharply
drawn line OF distinction between an
opinion handed down from the curb.
stone. without ever the apparent re.
straint OF an operative conscience. and
wholly without responsibility on the
one hand, and on the other, a Legal
opinion based on an official oath, the
statutes and binding presidents. the
facts involved, and rendered by one
acting officially for the public. and in
the knowledge that a higher tribunal
may review It and. either approve It
or render It %nugatory. as the circum.
stances may make proper.
There Is no Excuse for such loose
curbstone gossip In any case. says an
exchange, or touching the conduct Of
any person, but when it is done to in.
flame minimizing persons against
courts of justice presided over by men
who seek 10 do the right thing and
TO maintain the supremacy of the law
and thus safeguard the liberties of
the people themselves. even no less
the scandal-monger than the peace
able citizen. it then becomes doubly
dangerous and devilish. Nothing is
more represensible than any effort to
abridge the proper freedom of speech,
but there ought somewhere to be the
firm grip of honor byond which the
tongue should cease to wag,' or its
owner should set a watch before his
mouth.
There has long existed in this coun.
try n decent respect among average
men for the courts. Indeed some have
so sacredly looked upon the Judiciary
as to hold them all but above criti.
cism. Only n few months ago our
great and deseryedly popular EXPIRES
ident found 1t advisable to. explain one
OIL his own criticisms OF n court which
fact shows at least his recognition OF
the feeling of many people on the sub.
iect. The right attitude, 1t would
seem, not only toward the courts, but
toward public officials generally, and,
inrfact, toward all. is to criticise only
with a view to- correcting a wrong,
and to base all such criticism OH known
and demonstrate facts instead of
falsehoods. partial truths or mere
idle rumors. sr4 ,+.- r,,lf 81
That great blessing and public
boon-freedom Of speech-is SO sub.
iect TO abuses. Men SO indulge them.
selcvs In this sort OF excess as to do
incalculable harm to others, and per.
haps more TO themselves by a self
impeachment which amounts TO the
impairment of their regulations and
their usefulness.
THE DOG DAY MONTH.-AU.
|CuST-SiN lucky days: 6. I. 10, II, 10,
rs. Two unlucky days: Is. 20.
Persons born in August have strong
individuality and high ideals. They
are kind hearted, generous. emotional
and have great power for good; strong
love for their own people; have strong
likes and dislikes without real cause;
like TO do things their W way and
will no: brook interference. The wo.
men are fond Of their children and will
listen to nc dictation In regard to
their management. They are fond of
home and home comforts and make
Ideal home-keepers. The men are we'll
calculated for positions Of trust and
responsibility; apt to blunder In the
first marriages but do not hesitate to
get a divorce and make the experiment
|asain, after which they are usually
happy. They have congenial. sunny
dispositions and are long lived. and
apt to borrow and forget TO return:
are sometimes lazy and like to sleep.
They are inclined to argue without
knowing whether they are right or
wrong.
They should begin. important under.
takings in January and October. and
for them Sunday Is the most favora.
Bile day Of the week.
They should marry with those born
In September. October or December.
The stone for this month is the sar-
donyz.
JEFF DAVIS BODY