The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-02
Thou Shalt Not Steal"


been said, "all men are liars" may
we not say with equal truths, "all
men are thieves?" That looks like
a pretty severe accusation to bring
against the human race, but let US
examine the matter a little.
The impulse to steal is simply an
unduly developed and more or less
deformed impulse to acquire. The in
stinct of self-preservation impels US
to acquire food, clothing and shelter.
Under civilized usage, we do this
mainly by earning money, as the SIM
plest and most convenient means of
supplying our various wants.
A proper appreciation Of the ethi-
cal force Of the law Of menu ct
tuum" has a restraining influence
upon the abnormal growth of the in
stinct of acquisitiveness, and, along
with the golden rule, it tends to
make men honest.
Two or three years ago man who
had had large experience in dealing
with delinquent boys lectured in Dal-
las. His subject was "The Boy" This
gentleman made the statement that
the most universal weakness he had
found in boys was the tendency to
steal. 1t follows, therefore, that pill
fering must be the most common
weakness in men, as they are only
grown-up boys. We have all often
heard the old saying, Every man has
his price" This is not literally true,
as there are some men who are above
price.
Uncle" Tom Simpkins, Of Fair
Play, was reputed to be one of these
"a man without a price. 1t so hap
pened that a certain appointive office
was vacant, several mercenary occu-
pants having in rather rapid success
sion, been discharged because Of pc
culations Of less or greater import
ance. The governor was sorely per-
picked to find a really honest man to
fill the position, for it was one which
offered alluring temptations to
crookedness and graft. Finally a
confidential adviser suggested
Uncle" Tom Simpkins as man
above suspicion and beyond price" "
So Uncle" Tom was given the place.
For nearly six months everything
went along without a hitch or a cause
for complaint. The governor was de-
lighted, being, as he thought, more
fortunate than Diogenes, for he had
found an honest man, and without
the aid of lantern, at that.
Alas for human over-confdence.
The next mail brought him this short
letter:
Dear Governor-Please send a
man up here to relieve me at once.
Those blamed scoundrels have mighty
nigh reached my price. Yours sin
cerely, Thomas Simpklns.
Pilfering, thieving, robbing, "swip-
ing"-in short, just plain stealing
while emanating from the abnormal
growth of acquisitiveness, presents
various aspects, some of which are
sad and pathetic, while others are
really amusing. War, in a general
way, is robbing on large scale yet
no military chieftain, perhaps, could
be made to believe himself thief or
robber.
There is much taste displayed, too,
among thieves. A train or bank rob-
Der would not stoop so low as to pick
a mans pockets. Many bandits have
been known to go through a train
and rob every man, but gallantly de-
cline to take money from the ladies,
even when offered to them. Others,
still more considerate, even refuse to
rob any individuals at all, confinlng
their raids to the mail and express
coaches.
We have all seen many boys (and
some men, too, who wouldn't steal
a cent from anybody, but who would
not hesitate to raid an orchard, or a
melon patch, particularly the latter.
Somehow a watermelon seems to have
an unbounded fascination for boy,
and when "swiped' on moonlight
night is the most delicious fruit
known to the human palate.
There used to be well-known man
in Texas, who stood high in political
circles, having at one time been a
member Of the State legislature. This
man was regarded as the very person
ification of honor. vet he couldn't let
al opportunity pass to steal hound
dog. He had no particular use for
dogs, as he seldom went hunting, but
he had an irresistible impulse to steal
L,