The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-13
EVENING car

why no we No FTP


OF an the unreasonable things we
unreasonable human beings do it seems
to me that blaming people for actions
which in themselves were perfectly
guiltless. but which happen to cause
US discomfort. u one Of the worst.
The other day when was trying to
transact some important business over
the telephone someone from above
stairs. who did not know I was talking
over the phone. began calling to me.
Now anyone who has ever used . tele-
phone. knows how annoying and con-
fuaing It IL to have someone try to
speak to you while You are listening to
the party ON the wire. The result Of
interruption In my, case was that the
important business was very much
muddled. Needless to say I left the
telephone In q state Of great annoy
ance and At once went upstairs to scold
the interrupter.
And being q person with q very bad
temper. 1t wasn't until after I had
freed my mind and cooled down that
realized how unreasonable had been.
She didn't know that was listening at
the telephone. and to call down to me
when was not At the phone was per-
fectly guiltless. had suffered q good
deal OF fnconvenience. but it was only
through . mistake. not any deliberate
onense. And 30, after all It was who
deserved the scolding instead OF she
OF course you do not ny or the ham
die as badly an that because you have
better disposition. but tell me, reader
friend. don't you sometimes make the
mistake OF blaming people for actions
which in themselves were perfectly
suiltiess but which happened to cause
you discomfort or inconvenience?
Especially In dealing with children, It
seems to me. We make this mistake Of
letting the trouble an act OF theirs
causes us and not the culpability of
the act itself. be the criterion Of the
blame they shall receive.
have seen child put to bed for
tipping over a plant with one Of those
quick impulsive motions. for which
children are hardly to be blamed at all;
and merely reproved for a serious ex-
hibition of selflshness.
In my own childhood nothing caused
such q ferment OF Indignation in my
heart az when was punished for acts
which I had committed with no intent
Of wrong. I shall mover forget being
sent to bed by an aunt whom I was
visiting because 1 tore my dress in an
attempt to do something which I really
thought would please her. She lived
In the country and kept hens. had
had NO previous experience with these
creatures. and was deeply interested in
them and especially In the urgent de-
sire on the part Of my aunt and uncle
for more eggs. / realised that the hens
laid when they sat ON the nest, and
80 one day took a hen which I
thought had not been doing her duty.
wriggled in behind the nest and firmly
held her on for some moments
The punishment received for the
torn dress which was tho only result
Of my unselfish labor, still rankles. I
knew that i had meant to help. and to
be punished for my mistake was almost
moro than could bear.
OF course 1t takes a great deal Of
patience to be just when you are an
noyed or inconvenienced: and we hui
man creatures cannot always accom-
plish the feat But surely to be just
under such circumstances IL an ideal
we'll worth striving for.