The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-22
Seeing Life From Underground
ny MARY CHAMPION.

, your whole life in ferreting out on
q dark corner of life after another.
you will have little time or energy
or powers of appreciation left to de-
vote to enjoyment of the wide, wind
swept moors, the heaither-cIad noun
tsins, the sea calling far off TO a mans
life OF healthy northumberland, after
all, these are a greater part of the
world than the rabbit warren.
When a man calls himself "a man
of the world" | wonder whether he
has devoted himself to the study OF
any more than one dark corner that
IN worth no ones study: when he
speaks of n'swoman of the world,
snow he means woman who cares
less for the big. sunny. windy, whirl-
ing world of reality than she does for
the little circle of gossip. scandal. and
intrigue that surrounds her bridge
table.
What sad misuse of words.
/ have here @ letter from q man
who calls himself "a gambler and
scoundrel.' and tells me that he was
born and brought up amid evil in
fuenees and surroundings; lac was
taught to drink and gamble in boy
hood, and does not know how TO
pull himself up on the downward
track He has never had a chance. ,
has a chance. and great one. The
very fact of his being 30 conscious
of his shortcomings proves that he
can overcome them II he tries hard
enough.
There is hope Tor every man VINO
does not glory In BrongdoinG and
think himself fine fellow because
he breaks the commandments
Let Gambler and Scoundrel'' and
others like him fight against his temp
tation. free himself from old asso-
Citations and bad companions, and
make up hts mind to work hard-~and
play cricket.
Then he Ia sure To win, and viii
look back some day TO his presen nj
bondage as to "A night of bad dreams.
Let him make wager with him
self that the next time he is tempted
to do anything wrong, he'll resist He
will find it just as good sport as any
other kind OF gambling. and far more
profitable.
xary influences, you Will tell me,
Sometimes think "heredity'' IL held
responsible for too many avoida bic
misdeeds and backsiidings
Nowadays a man Ia encouraged TO
think that because his forefathers
ate sour grapes he may be allowed
TO continue unmolested in the same
foolish practice.
For many reasons, I prefer the old
fashioned term Of original man sin. .
which, after all. means much the
same thing as "heredity'
/ would rather have a man think
OF his temptations as promptings Of
the dexil than as Irresistible pre- nata
influence impossible for him TO resist
! Belief In a personal devil may be an
cutworn superstition. but I don't
know that Ii is any mora sensible 10
believe in an old man-cf-th e-sea OF
a dishonest grandfather, and "a In Ger.
tainiy Lass irxfeoratfnx- --a-----~------r
A man may listen politely to the
voice OF his grandfather when hs
would say. get thee behind me" to
satan.
After all, what are names" ws
know that evil ez.>sts. Let ms ffght IT
for our own sakes and the sakes OF
our future grandchildren. to whom we
In turn, IL we don't take care. NAV
PLAY the part Of a grim hereditary
ghost -------z-------z-------
And for heavens sake. 1ont mis-
take the windirgs OF a rabbit warren
for the world" and your undignifted
s~~torafanx there fo~ 'ftfa."