Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-04-16
MAKING THE BEST
OF ALL PEOPLE
A Quotation Which Has Helped Me
The Advisability of Passing it on
The Duty Which We Have Repeat
edly Heard-A Psychological Issue
Confidence Is the Root Of Friend
ship-A Person of Experience De-
fining our Position.
BY w. 7. Williams.

should extend it to the point of max
ing the best of people. Look at their
good points. Put the most charitable
construction on their acts. Give |
them the credit for honest purposes
even when they blunder. If your
first impulse is to ascribe unworthy |
motives to those about you, it shows
a serious weakness in yourself. You
cannot make the most of life till you
have learned to make the best of 9TH
ers.-Anon.
This little clipping has been before
my eyes on my desk for several years,
and appreciating it's value, for it has
had long, hard test, or the kind that
brings out the feeble and stout fea-
lures of things, think the hour has
arrived when it ought to be passed on
to others. Whence it came l cannot
tell. but this does not matter. Suf-
icient il is to say-I nave felt its
guiding influence. 1t has in it the |
power for which we crave. More than
once it has changed my attitude, and
besides. it has within it's confines a
principle which is fundamental. 1t
"a greater than it appears on the sur
face, and believe that all will see it
by persuing it's line of thought. Un-
less / am badly mistaken, it has that
force which pierces one to the quick
when he is disposed to censure his fell
lows. This is precious and we cannot
afford to miss it.
Frequently we have heard that
making the best of people is serious
duty, or the kind which every one
should unfailingly perform, but when
we dwell on the matter, we discover
"A = 49, ae,H tho eOr1
WHY that such is the case, it involves
so much. Il covers ones life and it
Is so deepl It means before we can
do IL that we know ourselves, with ex-
cellent self-control, realizing the pos
sibilities Of our nature. 1t is a psyche
logical issue, and to perform this duty
intelligently, we feel that we are
wrestling with something which is
profound and sublime. 1t is job that
taxes our endowment whatever that
is. It can never be too great. ard oc-
casionally, we wonder whether it can
be done intelligently because there
are so many turns in US all that oaf-
he the keenest minds. Our estlma-
tions of others, as well as of ourselves,
are so often wrong. We find so much
pleasure in dreaming dreams of mis-
construction. We have but One OF
whom il was said that He knew what
was IN man, and what a friend he was
10 ALI He was so frank, and yet so
silentl Have we considered this con-
trast which He manifested so plainly
and To such an advantage? This
ought to be an encouragement to US.
TO be able to make the best OF peo-
pie we must have confidence in them.
We cannot do so much without this
moral quality, because without 1T
every day is the night of fear and
distrust to US. Confidence is the root
of friendship, and no man can be a
friend without it. We must learn to
believe in our neighbors, and that un-
waveringly, Notwithstanding the
many announcements with which we
meet on all sides. These should be no
hindrance to us although our patience
Is tried severely by them. We should
resolve to trample them Under our
feet, because the ability to put the
most charitable construction on every
thing we see and hear is an excellenCy y
on which the heavens smile. This Is
what we need and we cannot have 1t
without confidence. Ascribing un-
worthy motives to those with whom
we come in contact in every avenue
does not speak, well of our training
II testifes loudly that we lack ig-
ANONYMOUSLY in our makeup. 1t shows
a weakness so serious that we ought
to determine without delay to over
come it, and to plant in its stead a
confidence that will make us strong
and serene. This is positive. and the
only way to become potent. The glory
of life Is seen by those who have
trained their eyes to view 1t from
this position. Let us not forget that
life expands as we become magnanim-
Gus, and we are imbued with its last
ing qualities according to our willing
ness to trust its appointments. Mis-
trust is the main spring of weakness
and every one should feel relieved at
ter breaking it in twain.
Often, however, when this matter Il
uuickened from the cold of the alb
stract, even though it's moral wortl
Is conceded, some folk are ready t,
shrug their shoulders, remarking:
ayes, it sounds we'll enough, but, i
II practical? Dare we trust peopl
to this extent? Is it not true tina
the risks are too great? Don't yo1
think that we ought to go littl
slow?
The way to answer these question
has been unmistakably shown TO
by our experience. We have learne
by living how to reply to them.
has been impressed upon our mind
that we must be trusted before W
can get along in this world, and, S
far as we can perceive. we are nc
more trustworthy than the averag
of people. We are about the same a
the average of people. We all hav
our weak points. Then, if we al
trusted by others, do we incur nor
risks by trusting than they? Not 8
all. and since we know that this
the manner of growth, we should
willing for the risks to be what the
NAV. Undue care, sometimes, become
the worst type of selfishness. An
indeed. we all have seen it more tina
once made to represent type OF a
rogancy which cannot be other tina
full of peril. For, when we say tn
we cannot trust others, there is som
thing back of it all which is not mat
known. II is a scheme to hide ol
true meaning. The average OF pc
pie are fully as trustworthy as '
are, and with fair chances they WI
prove it in fashion of which we W
be proud.
One time this question was given
woman who had lived almo
through the four seasons of her cart
ly career. She had passed at tn
hour her three score years and te
and her experiences had been vast al
varied. She had been poor and igno
ant. Repeatedly she had felt &
stabs of destitution. But now she WI
a great-grandmother in comfortah
circumstances, with a mind well-d
veloped. No one was ever better +
ted to speak on this subject than 81
and her response demonstrates VIII
has been said.
"Well,' she said, "to have confiden