The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-09-03
Saddened Hearts You Could
Cheer By a Smile.
Don't Boast Of The "Bit" You Have
Done, Or Try To Impress Others,
Especially "NeW Men," That
You Are Bad"
By H. S. Med.

ever paused to ponder, and inquire
what good you might be able to ac-
compllsh if you only turned your
efforts to the planning and carrying
out of good resolutions? Think of
the saddened hearts that you might
cheer by smile or few words of
encourae ement; the despairing ones
TO whom you might bring ray of
sunshine or CLEAN of hope by a
few words of cheerful sympathy,
and last. but not least. think of the
personal satisfaction and encourage
ment that you would receive, for it
is we'll known fact that he who
seeks to Tighten the burdens of 9th
ers, by little acts of kindness, also
banishes his own trials and troubles.
The greatest comforter that we
can receive is the knowledge that
we have helped despairing human
creature to get new grip on life;
that we by our feeble efforts have
assisted some one TO get out of the
slough of despond' and, as we see
him day by day mounting higher
and higher on the ladder of achieve
ment, our own heart grows lighter
because we know that our encour-
aging words are in measure re-
sponsible for his success in life.
Many of us have passed through
experiences that have left us sadder
but wiser men; experiences which it
had teen better for us to have miss
ed entirely, for they have thrown a
shadow over our lives, and made us
outcas' from the very society which
is ours by right of inheritance. Let
us profit by the mistakes and wrong
deeds of the past; let us lay out a
better future and. when once again
we are free from the restraining iron
bars, let us make the plans for the
future materialize. While we are
mapping out the future for ourselves,
let us not forget our fellow sufferers,
but lei us endeavor to inspire them
to nobler efforts, remembering that
the lessons that we would learn are
made easier by trying to teach 9TH
ers. When we see a man who is
weighed down with misgivings and
discouragements, let US do our best
to aid him to better understanding
and help in our small way to make
the future take on a brighter aspect
to him.
The mere knowledge that a man
has fallen iDto evil ways. once or
many times, is no reason why we
should think that he is beyond re-
demption. He has heart and soul
the same as the rest of humanity.
Remember that while there's life
there's hope" and it's never too late
to mend" Ali that is needed is to
get him to realize this fact, and. once
convince him that the future is not
50 dark and hopeless as he imagines
then we have accomplished the first
step toward his ultimate reforma-
ton. Let all our conversation with
him be truthful, and of cheering
and encouraging nature; let us never
by even a single word aid in his
encouragement.
Those of us who have served sew
eral terms in prison have duty to
perform: There are many here con-
fined who are suffering their first
penalty for violation of the law.
Many of these are young men who
envy the man who has long Grim
inal record, and they want to go out
and do as he has done. They think
it is of credit to them to be able to
say, Il have done time in such and
such institutions" Herein lies our
duty: We should do our utmost to
enable them to see the illusion that
is deceiving them. We know that
there is no glory or comfort connec.
ted with life of crime. and it be.
comes our sacred duty to do our ut
most to deter others from following
in our Improbable footsteps. Let US
always remember to tell of the good
things, never permitting our tongue
to tell the youthful offender of the
many evil things we have done. If
we speak of our past let it be told
as warning. and IN such manner
as to forever discourage them from
following a path whereon there is to
be found naught but sorrow, suffer-
ing and pain; path that is paved