Editorials from the Hearst NewspapersBrisbane, Arthur
Philosophy
Editorials from the Hearst Newspapers
Brisbane, Arthur
Editorials; Essays
Galileo perfected the telescope, spread out before man's
intellect the grandeur of the universe. Wilberforce helped to
awaken man's conscience. He freed millions of slaves. Columbus
gave a home to great nations. We thrive to-day because of his
noble courage. Michael Angelo and Shakespeare stirred human
genius to new efforts, and fed the human mind--a task more worthy
than the feeding of the human stomach. We ride in Fulton's
steamboats, and Watt's engine pulls us along.
Men who are truly great have DONE GOOD to their fellow-man. And
the greatest Soul ever born on earth came to urge but one thing
upon humanity, "Love one another." ----
Get money if you can. Get power if you can. Then, if you want
to be more than the ten thousand million unknown mingled in the
dust beneath you, see what good you can do with your money and
your power.
If you are one of the many millions who have not and can't get
money or power, see what good you can do without either.
You can help carry a load for an old man. You can encourage and
help a poor devil trying to reform. You can set a good example
to children. You can stick to the men with whom you work,
fighting honestly for their welfare.
Time was when the ablest man would rather kill ten men than feed
a thousand children. That time has gone. We do not care much
about feeding the children, but we care less about killing the
men. To that extent we have improved already.
The day will come when we shall prefer helping our neighbor to
robbing him--legally--of a million dollars.
Do what good you can NOW, while it is unusual, and have the
satisfaction of being a pioneer and an eccentric.
CRUEL FRIGHTENING OF CHILDREN
The most acute suffering is that produced by FEAR, and those who
suffer most acutely from fear are YOUNG children.
Who does not remember the intense agony in youth based upon the
superstitious teachings of some foolish older person?
And how many children are made miserable through the hideous fear
that comes from threats and from punishment postponed?
If a man should be whipped incessantly for three or four hours he
would think his tormentor a monster of brutality.
Yet you say to a child:
"I will whip you for that to-morrow."
You sentence that child to hours of the most acute mental
suffering, and if the child be nervous and unusually sensitive,
you may permanently injure its health. ----
Here is a scene unfortunately not rare in this country:
A thin, nervous little boy, perhaps ten years old, was walking
along a suburban street. Suddenly, on turning a corner, he was
confronted by a man, apparently his father.
The child stood trembling. The man, in a voice of cold,
concentrated anger, said:
"Didn't I tell you to come early. You go to the house and WAIT
THERE TILL I COME BACK AND FIX YOU."
The man walked on, to get the drink of beer or whiskey that
should add to his natural cruelty, and the poor child, without a
word, started for home to await the coming punishment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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