The Washington herald., 1915-07-16
Prudence.
BY JOHN d. BARRY.

BY JOHN d. BARRY.
HE other day was present when two writer.
were discussing their private affairs. Ont
of them, very brilliant man. was great drink
er. The other was an abstainer.
II envy you," said the drinker.
Why" said the abstainer, with smile
you seem to be able to get along SO com.
fortably without stimulants"
you could get on just as we'll if you cared
to try"
The drinker shook his head Il never feel SO
much at ease" he remarked "as when l have
had two three drinks. Then l can talk. You
see, I'm not much of taker. It's very hard
for me, a rule, to express my thoughts. After
two three drinks it's all smooth sailing"
The abstainer thoughtful for a few mo-
ments. Then he said "But you give up one
valuable quality under those circumstances"
whats that"
Prudence"
One of those two writers has since drunk HIM
self to death Nature lost patience with him. He
left good work behind. But he left un-
done many fine things that, with the exercise of
prudence, he might have done.
Prudence is quality that isn't very much
admired. We seldom hear it celebrated When
HldH OF woman IS spoken OF as prudent
we are not impressed. In fact, we regard the
words as rather derogatory. Yet. as a thing Of
practical value, there are few qualities that can
compare with prudence.
This value indirectly recognize in the words
we have employed to describe those who are not
prudent. For though may not admire pru-
dence as conspicuous quality we have little ~
spect for those who are imprudent. On all sides
WE he MI into
times say of this person or that that he has
got into trouble again" In the use of the word
again" we recognize the existence of deep
seated weakness that has to keep expressing it.
self, a weakness beyond the control of prudence
Prudence is natural gift. But it is also a
gilt that can be developed. Of course, there must
be some prudence to begin with. But nearly every
one of us is blessed with some prudence. The
ability to reason so slightly means the ex-
istence in the organism of the power to exercise
prudence
The trouble with those of us who are impru-
dent is that we don't take advantage of what we
have in the way of prudence We don't make
the most of it. We don't stop to realize what
wonders we accomplish by means of little
cultivation.
very successful New York business man
was asked if he could explain the secret OF his
career. At first he was inclined to take the ques-
ton lightly. Finally he said: "If deserve any
credit for my good luck it is because I have
never done anything, that is, anything important
without trying to trace out the effect to its end
In other words" he added, II have tried not to
do anything important in a haphazard way. And
my luck l attribute just much to what have
not done as to what have done"
Here, 1t seems to me- is An illustration of pru-
dence at its best.
For prudence consists largely of putting aside
the advantage Of the moment for the sake OF ad-
vantage in the future.
Most of US live h the present 1t is the wise
ones who, at any instant, can project themselves
out of the present into the future who can profit
BY both the present and the future, enjoying the
present and yet refusing to mortgage the future
or the sake OF. present indulgence.
Ida Tarbell is often quoted as giving an ideal
definition of what education ought to be- She
ays that it ought to teach people to think every
hing out to its conclusion and to adapt their
moral conduct to that conclusion.
In other words, Ida Tarbell means that edu-
alton ought to develop prudence. She knows
hat prudence is the very essence of wisdom.
Prudence, then, is by no means the narrow,
'etty quality that so many of US regard it as
icing. 1t requires high degree of imagination
indeed, it is one Of the most imaginative of all
he virtues.
There is. Of course, such a thing as carrying
prudence too far. 1t can destroy spontaneity,
me Of the most precious qualities in the world
t can paralyze action. 1t can deterorate into
mere timidity.
Such negative prudence has no real virtue 1t
oes not deserve the name of prudence 1t is
indeed prudence carried into imprudence
1t is only when prudence is positive, when
looks ahead and weighs and wisely sacrifices
hat it can be said to have any real merit and