The Washington herald., 1914-04-22
The Sheer the Smile Of Evil.
BY EMORY ). HAYNES.

Let JUS just where does sneer fit in good
to make the world happier? No one ever found the
place. just where does fit in exactly to make
unhappiness? Why, about everywhere you please.
Sneers for torture, for increased anger and
sentiment, for chagrn. Indeed the is the very
smile of Evil. 1t is the crudest the most harmful
of all human expressions Curses are not so deeply
woundng.
young fellow sneered at the prudery of other
college men who did not get drunk. 1t such a
laughable foolshness be Purtsnical and get
little muddIeheaded by champagne. And to walk
the late streets lark He had sneers for the
temperate, the prudent the self-controlled. But as
the leaves of life turnd his became tears
the consequences of his own folly overlook him.
1t is the sneer that emboldens the gunman ap-
prentice. The town is full of youthful gangsters who
at virtue. And right behavior seems to these
youngsters something be laughed at bitterly, to be
sneered at The hiss of this sneer is to be heard
on every street corner where these young loafers
congregate. No self-respectng passes but
they sneer. No working boy passes but they sneer
at his toll. No form of industry and orderly busi-
ness but they hiss at it As If all the
honest world fool, and these young cynics
alone wise.
But up in the governors chamber, when male
we're no sneers. Tears rather. and heartbreak-
ing tension of pity the officials part. The world
bolted and barred together in realities and is no
cynic's Joke.
1t is my sober judgment that the prevalent sneer
at good morals is the most destructive agency for
degeneracy that the world has ever known To
laugh at what is good is murderous OF social integrity
There is the who ventures protest in his per-
sonal example against the devastation wrought by
the abuse OF intoxicants. Men sneer at him and
laugh cynicaly subject that deserves serious St-
tention They show thereby a contempt for that
which is good.
Ridicule is two-edged sword No man easily
resists II. Yet IT is almost the most popular
amusement OF the funny man" today. When the
poor fool sho laughed out OF his scruples is up
before the court there Jibes no SCOTS The
joke is over. The victim himself has lost his laugh
While the at virtue is cracking the courts are
full of sobbing.
We jest loves inideity and sneer at fraity
as divorce repeats its human misery But the misery
is no jest. We at the charges of misconduct
in high places. But the fetter upon the wheel of
good drags just the as if there were no laugh
Let us turn the leaf. No sneers please if that
is your mood, at sight of any wrong. Keep your
cynicism TO yourself Let us sigh and mourn over
exhibitions of evil, and. may be- consider ourselves
lest also we be tempted" What change il would
be it, for every that is the fashion, there
went up PRAYER. For every jest at the expense of
self-denial there lifted great hope that the
tempted might stand.
We want smiles, genuine. genial smiles OF the
optimist. We want words of encouragement for every
fighter to make this better nation even if he does
not go TO work in way.
Why not every one of try it, to make no use
CT a sneer. from on. till find God given
place for ii? A place for a that will make
woman more lovely, children sweeter, manhood
stronger. place for sneer that will make this
world more like heaven. place for a where
an honest smile will work. Is there any such
place.