Evening star., 1948-12-03
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trace1uell

Many person has come through trials and
tribulations while merely sitting at luncheon
table.
No shot has been fired. no warfare declared,
but loud and long has been the conflict, and
sweet the victory.
The refusal to defend ones self unnecessarily
from covert attack, often in the guise of humor,
is one Of the highest reaches of everyday wis
dom, known to us all, fortunately, now and
then.
THE ungodly flee when no man pursueth, but
the righteous are bold as an lion"
So 1t was said. long ago. Today, the tempta-
ton at times is to permit others to put one in
the shoes of the ungodly.
Occasions arise in daily conversation when
words can be construed as hidden attacks
Refusal to accept such an attack is the best
way to meet it, if it has been meant. And II
1t has not been meant. then such refusal Is
precisely the proper thing. In either event 1t Is
the best course of action. Too often, young
people pursue the other course. They fly on
the handle. get mad" grow red in the face
over something best handled by quietude Be-
ing quiet, when one really ought to be so, Is
gain of middle and old age, If ever.
Just plain old anger Is what does It,
When one grows angry over something said
he gives up his humanity for second and Joins
the poor dumb brutes whose anger is so part
of them because they have nothing else.
Let moralists say what they will, anger Is
part of life People always are growing angry,
and often 1t Is necessary that they do so (aS
when some famous State Department official
tells the Russians Off for instance). We need
anger, sometimes, at a word we DO not ike.
Anger is sometimes vital to human life. Those
who have adopted the humanitarian aspects OF
life with too great success, let us say, some
times are sorry for it. They are not able to
strike back, when striking back is necessary.
1t is possible to hold ones self in check little
too we'll We sneer at the animal that bites
the hand that feeds it, but sometimes the cul-
tivated Christian is not even able to bite
the hand that Injuries him. Civilization then
achieves its purpose too well.
But in everyday practical life, one of the
highest of earthly wisdoms is to refuse to de-
fend ones self at all. In certain circumstances,
those who have been able to do this have be-
come the worlds great spiritual heroes. Only a
few become capable of this abnegation. Yet
from their examples, even the commoneSt per-
son can take heart, and learn much. He will
find out that in everyday life exist many OPP
portunites for refusing to flee when no man
pursueth, and even, at times, when some man
doth pursue, but mistakenly. There are many
reasons why people cannot get along Scientists
say their chromosomes are crossed. The deep
hidden wells of ancestral traits lie at the bot
murderer in the line, springing out here, in this
Quiet Office, at this dinner table, at this board
meeting Who knows but if we keep still. the
murderer will sink back into the lair of time,
and again there will emerge the decent young
man we thought we knew
No shot is fired, no warfare declared, but the
hero is there, as large as life, given a medal by
himself for good conduct on the field of every
day battle.
Let the fellow sneer, and even smear, he is
wrong and time will prove even to him that he
is wrong The wise oldster land occasionally
younpster) knows that more trouble is likely to
arise from saying too much than from saying
too little Silence at the proper time Is ex-
pediency of the highest sort and one Of the
greatest means Of defense in the entire
gallery of intellectual weapons. 1t is possible
for any man near, at or beyond middle age to
test his own capacity for higher things by the
success with which he refuses to be stampeded
into an unnecessary defense.