Miscellaneous Writings Part 44

Taking Offense

There is immense wisdom in the old proverb, "He [25]

that is slow to anger is better than the mighty." Hannah More said, "If I wished to punish my enemy, I should make him hate somebody."

To punish ourselves for others' faults, is superlative folly. The mental arrow shot from another's bow is [30]

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practically harmless, unless our own thought barbs it. [1]

It is our pride that makes another's criticism rankle, our self-will that makes another's deed offensive, our egotism that feels hurt by another's self-a.s.sertion. Well may we feel wounded by our own faults; but we can hardly afford [5]

to be miserable for the faults of others.

A courtier told Constantine that a mob had broken the head of his statue with stones. The emperor lifted his hands to his head, saying: "It is very surprising, but I don't feel hurt in the least." [10]

We should remember that the world is wide; that there are a thousand million different human wills, opinions, ambitions, tastes, and loves; that each person has a differ- ent history, const.i.tution, culture, character, from all the rest; that human life is the work, the play, the ceaseless [15]

action and reaction upon each other of these different atoms. Then, we should go forth into life with the smallest expectations, but with the largest patience; with a keen relish for and appreciation of everything beautiful, great, and good, but with a temper so genial that the friction [20]

of the world shall not wear upon our sensibilities; with an equanimity so settled that no pa.s.sing breath nor accidental disturbance shall agitate or ruffle it; with a charity broad enough to cover the whole world's evil, and sweet enough to neutralize what is bitter in it,-de- [25]

termined not to be offended when no wrong is meant, nor even when it is, unless the offense be against G.o.d.

Nothing short of our own errors should offend us. He who can wilfully attempt to injure another, is an object of pity rather than of resentment; while it is a question [30]

in my mind, whether there is enough of a flatterer, a fool, or a liar, _to_ offend a whole-souled woman.

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Hints To The Clergy

At the residence of Mr. Rawson, of Arlington, Ma.s.sa- chusetts, a happy concourse of friends had gathered to celebrate the eighty-second birthday of his mother-a friend of mine, and a Christian Scientist. [5]

Among the guests, were an orthodox clergyman, his wife and child.

In the course of the evening, conversation drifted to the seventh modern wonder, Christian Science; where- upon the mother, Mrs. Rawson, who had drunk at its [10]

fount, firmly bore testimony to the power of Christ, Truth, to heal the sick.

Soon after this conversation, the clergyman's son was taken violently ill. Then was the clergyman's opportunity to demand a proof of what the Christian [15]

Scientist had declared; and he said to this venerable Christian:-

"If you heal my son, when seeing, I may be led to believe."

Mrs. Rawson then rose from her seat, and sat down [20]

beside the sofa whereon lay the lad with burning brow, moaning in pain.

Looking away from all material aid, to the spiritual source and ever-present help, silently, through the divine power, she healed him. [25]

The deep flush faded from the face, a cool perspiration spread over it, and he slept.

In about one hour he awoke, and was hungry.

The parents said:-

"Wait until we get home, and you shall have some [30]

gruel."

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But Mrs. Rawson said:-[1]

"Give the child what he relishes, and doubt not that the Father of all will care for him."

Thus, the unbiased youth and the aged Christian carried the case on the side of G.o.d; and, after eating [5]

several ice-creams, the clergyman's son returned home -_well_.

Perfidy And Slander

What has an individual gained by losing his own self- respect? or what has he lost when, retaining his own, [10]

he loses the homage of fools, or the pretentious praise of hypocrites, false to themselves as to others?

Shakespeare, the immortal lexicographer of mortals, writes:-

To thine own self be true, [15]

And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

When Aristotle was asked what a person could gain by uttering a falsehood, he replied, "Not to be credited when he shall tell the truth." [20]

The character of a liar and hypocrite is so contempti- ble, that even of those who have lost their honor it might be expected that from the violation of truth they should be restrained by their pride.

Perfidy of an inferior quality, such as manages to evade [25]

the law, and which dignified natures cannot stoop to notice, except legally, disgraces human nature more than do most vices.

Slander is a midnight robber; the red-tongued a.s.sas- sin of radical worth; the conservative swindler, who [30]

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sells himself in a traffic by which he can gain nothing [1].

It can retire for forgiveness to no fraternity where its crime may stand in the place of a virtue; but must at length be given up to the hisses of the mult.i.tude, with- out friend and without apologist. [5]

Law has found it necessary to offer to the innocent, security from slanderers-those pests of society-when their crime comes within its jurisdiction. Thus, to evade the penalty of law, and yet with malice aforethought to extend their evil intent, is the nice distinction by which [10]

they endeavor to get their weighty stuff into the hands of gossip! Some uncharitable one may give it a forward move, and, ere that one himself become aware, find himself responsible for kind (?) endeavors.