Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-28
Are You Blind?
By GRAHAM HOOD.

Lots of us who think we have pretty
good eyesight are frequently as ''blind as
a bat" when 1t comes to seeing some
things. Most of us can see clearly
enough when we are out on tour of in
spection of our neighbors' faults; yet
when it comes to seeing these same faults
reproduced to the letter in ourselves. one
might almost imagine that We were ut
terly devoid of the gift Of sight.
Have you ever met man or woman
who was without faults? I have met
people who claimed to be ''perfectionists''
who told me that they could do. no evil
but there was not money enough in
sight to tempt me to take up my perma-
nent abode with them. People who can
see no faults in themselves are mighty
disagreeable people to associate with as
a rule. AS Bob Burdette once said, when
speaking about over-good people of this
stamp: They make me wickeder.'
Have you noticed this? Most of US
have.
The first time in my life 1 ever tried
to smoke was when, as very small boy.
I was subjected to several-hOur-long
dissertation upon the evils of tobacco at
the hands Of returned missionary. He
was lovely man and he meant we'll. I'm
door and point the way to a forbidden
land. / knew that men smoked. My
father smoked. But it had never occurred
to me that smoking was habit that peo-
pie ought not to indulge IN until this re-
turned missionary told me about 1t.
During the recital of all the terrible
details. my father sat squirming uncom
fortably in his easy chair. had a great
deal of respect for my father. l knew he
was a very good man and / could not
he n a thine GO
wicked as smoking was said to be unless
it was so enticing a practice that one
could afford to run the chance of doing
wrong in order to indulge in it.
Accordingly, when the lecture was end
ed. 1 slipped quietly away, took posses
sion of my fathers pipe. and went back
Of the house to try 1t for myself.
To tell the truth. did not find smoking
the delightful practice l had anticipated.
The experience was anything but enjoy
able, and have not forgotten it. though
many years have elapsed. At the same
time the effect of my experiment has
nothing to do with this article. the point
l want to make is that the tendency in
human nature is to rebel against the ad-
vice as we'll as the example of the overly
good and to go out and be different.
Assuming, then. that none OF us is so
perfect that he is without flaw or blem-
not derive considerable benefit from our
neighbours faults instead of getting in
dignant at him for having weaknesses.
If We were to look at this matter in the
right light we should realize that our
neghbors are nothing more or less than
so many mirrors in which We see our
selves reflected If We have the ''giftie'
to possess eyes that are open to such in
Prospective matters.
OF course, our neighbours faults may
sometimes make us very uncomfortable,
but what is the effect of our faults upon
our neighbOr? II We are mean and sell
fish and ugly, we probably make our
neighbor very uncomfortable at times.
We should think Of this when our neigh
Dor exhibits the unsavory side of his dis
position for our inspection. A.ie law of
human conduct which warns US to be-
ware of throwing stones when We our
selves are so far from blameless, applies
TO the little as we'll as to the big things
in life, yet how many OF US live up to
this standard? How many of us try to
forget or at least overlook our neighbor' S
faults because We realize that We have
lot of our own?