The L'Anse sentinel., 1924-01-18
WITH THE
HIGH SCHOOL
CLASSICS
By MARGARET BOYD

py the complexity OF human affairs,
into strange situations; but justice is
the same, let the judge be in what situ-
alton he wilI."-Speech on "concilia-
ton With America"
We think at once of that ruler of
ancient Sparta, who announced that
the next man who violated certain
law should be put to death, and the
first viOlator to be brought before him
was his only son. The people pleaded
with him not to break his own heart
by sentencing his son. for the ruler
was much loved and respected by his
countrymen. He felt, however. as did
Burke that Justice is the same, let
the judge be in whatever situation he
will" He reasoned that IL the offender
had not been his son, he would have
been the son of some one else who
would have loved him just as dearly,
and that, therefore, the. question Of
affection could not be considered.
Modern judges are rarely called
upon to sentence their own sons: but
they are frequently called upon to
sentence their own ambitions. Our
present system of electing judges
makes II highly improbable that a
Judge who offends an important po-
litical boss or strong organization
will ever advance far in his profess
sion. Some years ago, for example,
there was a great scandal In one Of
our states about the spending Of state
money. The so-called graft cases were
tried before a judge who refused to
be influenced by anything except the
evidence, and the millionaire grafters
were found guilty. Those who did
not escape by suicide were sent to the
penitentiary. These men were friends
Of the strongest political boss chen
living. When that judge was nomi-
mated for place In the Supreme court
Of his state he was defeated pr cleo
tion, although all the state. with the
exception Of two cities. voted for him.
When Judge lets himself be infiu-
enced by the strange situation In
which he finds himself. we may be
pretty sure to hear of the tyranny Of
the law rather than Of the justice OF
the law. Bacon, an eminent authority
on the subject Of judicature, II ever
there were one, says: "One foul SEN
tence doth more hurt than many foul
examples. For these do but corrupt
the stream: the other corrupteth the
fountain"
And again: "a judge ought to pre-
pare his way to just sentence. as
God useth to prepare his way, by
praising valleys and taking down
hills; so when there appeareth on
either side an high hand. violent prose
cution. cunning advantage taken, COM
bination, power. great counsel, then Is
the virtue of judge seen. to make In
equality equal; that he may plant his
judgment as upon an even ground"
ain vain the learning Of the age
uncIasped the Isabie-Iettered page;
Even In its treasures he could find
Food for the fever Of his mind"
Lady Of the Lake.
According 10 an old story. three
men, lumberman, q botanist and a
poet. went for a walk together through
forest. After the walk. the lumber
man could discuss the sort Of lumber
the trees would make and how much
II would cut to the acre; the botanist
could name the species of trees and
underground, and could discuss the
geology of the region; the poet could
talk Of the arcning Of the branches,
the fiecking with light and shade of
the forest floor, and the coloring of
the tree trunks and leaves. All had
looked at the same things; but each
had seen just what his interest and
training had fitted him to see.
1t Is much the same with reading.
Three men may read the same book
and get from II three totally different
messages or the same men may read
book at three different ages and get
from II three different messages. We
can understand Of any book or poem
only what our experience has fitted us
TO understand We cannot comprehend
q thought that Is outside our knowl-
edge When a man evolves new idea
the rest of the world Is unable to un-
derstand II until intellectual bridges
have been built to connect our old
ideas with the new idea.
When people find Shakespeare and
Milton and Thackeray dull. 1t merely
means they lack knowledge to enable
them to enjoy the works Of these
writer's. Pupils who find Shakespeare
bore while they are in high school
are likely to fnd him most fascinat-
Ing writer when they reread his works
fifteen or twenty years after they are
out Of school; because they will have
gained in knowledge, and experience
In the meantime.
II a man has c mental obsession,
'fever OF his mind.r he will find food
to feed II In whatever he reads. A be-
lever and an unbeliever. for example.
can read the same book. and one win
ga L. tt o~~~.s~~>n<s - ~k~.~~<ho~ 49,