The Washington times., 1935-06-29
When News Is Bad


Here is reproduced LIE Comte de Nonys famous picture
called 1.-The Bearer Of Bad News
ancient monarch of Egypt looking out from the terrace
Of his palace brutay saughrs after another miserable
unarmed slaves they bring bad from his armies
Killing the messengers doubtless relieved the feelings Of
the brutal ruler annoyed by the tdng of defeat But it
did change bad to good and made it probable
that later intelligent messenger, knowing
the fate of his comrades would arrive with dagger hidden
and give his master REAL bad news.
It takes little imagination to reconstruct this in
Egypt The Pharaoh ruler of the rich Nile country
recine ease the wide river flowing by his palace
toing and in the fields, all his slaves Far
away armies commanded by not yet made soft and
worthless by luxury fighting against outside barbar1ans
attracted by the luxury old Egypt constantly striving
conquer her. for her riches occasionally succeeding UNTIL
recently the recent invaders the Mamilukes" Mo-
hammedans, yielded power to good practical old England
From fighting line at the 'front.' messengers arrive bring
ing the ruler good bad the fortunes of battle
change
You could not ask better picture of stupid cruelty and
pitiful submission than this.
But he who murders others may himself expect to die at
the murderers hand and many proud ruler has had the
dagger driven into his heart the poison put in his cup
by one submissive than these murdered slaves Beyond
the Pharaoh standing in the doorway you woman
of his household She has his flashing, dripping blade
do its work. knows that what happened to the hapless mes
enger may happen to her. One such thinking might
easily end the Pharaoh'S power.
Contrast this picture of the murderous Pharaoh with the
wisdom of Napoleon Corcan born ruler Of France He told
his Marshals Send the bad first and send as
swiftly as you cam. He said to servant who woke him
to tell victory awake somebody else when the
good Wake only when there BAD for bad news
] myself must remedy
Far from killing messenger bringing bad Napoleon
would concentrate his intellect close questioning Of that
messenger asking him what he when he left what he
the way what expression the face of the
handing officer that gave him the message and about the
feeling among the soldiers.
Wise Napoleon! All of us, in less important lives,
each within his little range should borrow his dea receiUe
bad calmly, study carefully try to make it useful
This depression came and those that thought themselves
safe found themselves poor anxious for the future Those
that had lived from hand mouth depending each week
the earnings Of that week. have gone through week after
week, month after month, with earnings That not
cheerful but all the for studying conditions
carefully examining them in the light of individual
necessities and problems.
Anger, despair encouragement indifference will not
help. And the Government with all its giving, can
provide real remedy.
would have been better for this Pharaoh had he reused
himself to action instead of saugherng the bearers of ill
they It is wise for each of to him
SELF make his plans, his energy and intelligence rather
than supiney condemnng conditions that confront him.
Study bad Sometimes understanding it it.