New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-12
IN PUBLIC PLACES
FraH Celebrity Deeply Cut Into a Post
Office Cornerstone.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Cir: I am no captious critic OF frail hui
mainly. Men have their rightful faults. "no'
indeed. Is not entitled to his particular imper-
fcction7 without shadows there would be no
high lights; without strong divergences from
the perfect type there could not exist that
delightful thing, personality. So, ones faults
should be accepted as the matria wherein ~
act and whence efulges our unique gems OF
character. The white teeth in the grimy lace
Of an industrious coal passer, the red mar OIL
a caddie. neck deep in the grecnery, are inc
more likable for the contrast OF their cnvi-
ronment.
Thus il is for contrast we hunger. virtue
in its pristine state is bore. IL is good torm
10 cxtol its possession, but-we duck wnen u
sidlcs to where we are happily listening 10
that ENJOYABLE checkerboard character oaiieu
the man or woman OF the world 10 nave n
reasonable amount Of goodness SHINING ioftn
from the interstices OF the frockles OF our
defects makes Of ono that well beloved creat-
ure spoken OF with afectionate tolerance 10
human.
So. as | have said. ! am no captIous crl'c
If the frailties Of human nature. There arc
|
The old lady too proud to admit her need
suffering in silence, wears species OF priue
the world could i'll afford TO lose. The self
ostocm which holds man true to course
because the neighbors are looking has us
hor o6ccntlv coercive value which is not to be
despised. Even the sheercst, the most shout
iro vanity has its uses For instance, IT
often works as an unconscious revealer OF
character without il as an aureole there
are many, lacking other notable qualities
who never would be discovered, nor, II dis
covered, be remembered.
We all remember the fellow at school VINO
persistently wrote his name on the walls OF
The most unconventional of monuments, as
we'll as the legend which as persstently
sprung to life beneath it: Fools names, hkc
their faces, are oftenest seen in public places.
Apropos of this failing there is in my mem
CIV an instructive picture. Overhanging one OF
the worlds most beautiful lakes there Is
cIiF sunerblv covered with lichen, centuries
old. Up its face there creeps. sharp stick IN
teeth. a boy. Reaching ledge near the sum-
nit the kid. taking trembling hold with ono
hand. seizes with the other his stylus and
rims. boy high. in the aged gray-green carpet
ing the SPRAYING and suggestive initials,
J. A.
Having thus immortallzed hlmseil the boy
iescends, TO find awaiting him the owner
severe and mercless man, dressed IN clerical
garh.
"Why did you do that?'
81 only Just wanted to. scratch my name,
sir"
"Whv did you want to scratch your name
there? That cliff isn't yours, nor did you
create it,"
"Only, sir, so they'd remember clumb up;
I'm going away, sir"
"Well, suspect you are, my son; take that
Now get t. hell out of here"
All of which came wildly to mind when,
the other day, stroled up to the tiny but
exquisite postofice but recently built at Cam
den. Me-it's only a postofice, having no
connection with any other department-sndl
saw deeply cut in its cornerstone the inscrip
ton. WILLIAM G. MADOO, SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY.
HENRY A. WISE WOOD.
New York, Aug Q, 1916.