The Washington herald., 1915-11-21
The Value Of Prudence.
RI JOHN d. BARRY.

i 49, By JOHN ID. HARRY.
/ A very promising writer / used to know a maj
lwho made an early success. fell into the way o
drinking. He was going rapidly down hill ans
he realized the fact and yet. he had the character
listic fondness of the who is in danger of be
coming drunkard for justifying himself. On,
day, in the presence of group of friends, he wa.
discussing the use of intoxicating liquor.
"You know" he said unless I've had drink
or two I can't talk 1t is almost impossible fol
me to find words to express myself. even when
have things in my mind that l want to say. But
drink makes talking easy. And it makes writing
easy, too. So why should I stop drinkingf'
The members of the group were embarrassed
They knew they confronted with delicate
subject One of the men spoke up, however:
I"You forget" he said shat when you take drink
you weaken one of the most valued qualities you
have"
whats that" asked the writer.
prudence" was the reply.
The writer considered the matter for long
time. That's true" he said, VERY quietly, and he
ordered another drink.
1t took him several years to reach the depths.
Then nature gathered him up and disposed of
him.
There is very brilliant lawyer in New York
City who has won fame for his wit. He now feels
that he has reputation to live up to- As he
grows older he gives his wit freer and freer rein
Success has acted upon him like wine. It has
weakened, if not wholly destroyed, his prudence.
The consequence is that he is feared wherever
he goes. His brother lawyers who have been in
cases with him on the opposite side detest him.
Even his friends have to apologize for him. Some
of them who have been made to suffer through
his indulgence in his own cleverness would hesi-
tate now before calling themselves his friends.
Once in very important case this lawyer made
a witness for the other side target of his jibes.
The witness bore the ordeal with great dignity.
When it was over and he was excused he stepped
down from the stand and turning to the judge, he
said: May l speak few words, your honor"
The judge looked little surprised, but he was
impressed by the quiet dignity Of the man and he
nodded his head. Then the man turned to the
lawyer and without anger or ill-feelng of any Sort
he made clear just what the lawyer had done to
him, how he had taken contemplate advantage
of his authority and made a perfectly innocent
human being the victim Of his vanity and conceit.
The manner in which the rebuke was delivered
impressed the whole courtroom. The lawyer
flushed and dropped his head. For once he was
made to realize where his lack of prudence had
led him.
But one rebuke could not change the habit of
years. That lawyer still goes browbeating
witnesses and exploiting his own ceverness at the
expense of those about him, incidentally making
the more thoughtful observer despise him for his
tyranny.
All egotism is like wine. 1t takes very strong
head to endure great success of any kind. An
opportunity to exploit ones self, to feel ones
vanity, often completely destroys prudence. I
know very clever writer whose career in New
York has been blighted by his fondness for indulg
ing his ability at the expense of others. 1t has
the effect of making him seem superior. Long in
diligence has convinced him that he is a person
of exceptional qualities He has devoted himself
to kind of personal journalism where the ridicule
of others is the chief asset. Scarcely day of
his life passes without his putting to
scorn. He ehjoys the reputation of being very
bright writer.
Meanwhile, through his lack of prudence, he
fcrgets that he is not only making bitter enemies
for himself, without doing any good whatever,
but that he is also exposing his own character.
1t is the people who never self-assertive
that make their influence most strongly felt in
the world. In other words, it is the people who,
instead Of dissipating and destroying and wasting
actually produce. They have the power not only
Of speaking when it is wise to speak but of keep
ink silent when it is wise to be silent.
Here, after ALL is the great test of prudence.
1t teaches people what not to do and when not to
do it. Like so many of the apparently inactive
virtues it expresses itself in the active powers Of
selfrestraint in the silent forces-that are so little
appreciated and that are among the most power
full in human life.