Life — February 1, 1900 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“ While there is Life there's Hope.” XXXV. FE 19 West Tuiury-Fiest St., New Yore. Published every Thursday. Hostage to LO w Year extra Single curr 10 ce Hack numbers, after three month date of publication, % cents. No contribution will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. VOL. RUARY 1, 1900. ‘The illustrations in Live are copyrighted, anil are not to be reproduced without speciat arrangement with the publishers, Prompt notification should be sent by sub- scribers of any change of address, ILE work of re- form goesever |, On,notwith ||) the slow and steady progress of climbing a hill, but by a fits and No starts, like a foot- ball driven towards a goal against strong opposition, Year in and year out, all over the United States and Great Britain, and possibly in other less sinful and progressive countries, the reformers are at it, reforming them. selves or other folks, luring us from our errors. when we are lurable, prodding us sternly away from sin when we are stubborn, and sometimes making the path of rectitude attractive to us by dis- porting themselves in it in a conspicuous and ingratiating manner. If it were not for the reformers, and especially those who wrestle with themselves, we would long since have gone we all know where. Very interesting phases of reformation are in progress in this land at this time. It was gratifying to read on January 15th ultimo about the mass meeting that was held the night before in Albany to muke a demonstration against profanity. It was the anniversary mecting of the Anti-Swearing League, formed a year ago with a membership of more than a thousaid. . At the gathering on the 14th the Right Reverend Bishop Burke, the Rev, Slattery, the Rev. Lynch, the Hon, McCabe, General Parker, President "LIFE = Milne of the State Normal College, and others of note and cloquence formally abjured and deprecated the use of bad words, It was well done, especially by the clerical gentlemen, on whom pro- fanity sits especially ill. They set us a grand example. It {s one of our weak- nesses as human creatures that we are too tolerant of imperfections in others, because we hate to have anybody too much better than ourselves. Some ad- mirable men— upright, great hearted, temperate and kind— are of an impetuous nature, and when warmed in declaration or discussion, say ‘*damn” and hell” with deplorable frequency and vigor. We are too apt to fecl sympathy with these lapses as indiscretions which take some of the curse off virtue. But that is wrong in us, When a bad man swears it makes him appear worse, and when a good man swears he is usually sorry after. wards, so it {8 not really profitable. Governor Roosevelt might do worse than join the Albany Anti-Swearing League. It is not in Lire's knowledge that he ever swears, but he grits his teeth, and that—as the Keening Post delights to say —is “‘ cqually as bad.” Besides, the Gov- ernor is under such strong and frequent temptation to use explosive language that he ought to buttress himself against it betimes by resolves and pledges and alliances. Our arb b) ANoTuer edifying and unusual flip- flup of reform was lately reported from New Milford, Connecticut, There are about three thousand persons in New Milford, und it is the sense of some of them that the others drink too much. The critics of the drinkers want to get rid of the saloons, but they can't, aod early in January (so says the New York Times) they allowed that since the saloons must stay they would try to raise the tone of them, so the deacons, temperance advocates, head men and exemplary citi- zens generally of the town agreed to spend as much time as they could spare in saloons and sce what went on inthem, and why saloons were attractive, It isa pretty good idea. If it brings different sorts of men together they may all profit by it. The careful and discreet will learn to play dominocs and get the news, and the less discreet may be restrained in their indulgences by the presence of their bet If there were facilities for bringing the unco guid into relations with the publicans and sinners, the world might be a better place. ANOTHER grand reform movement analogous to this one in New Milford, bas culminated in the establish- ment of a cigar stand in the rotunda of the Woman's Temple in Ch’cago. The Temple is an office building which was put up at the instigation of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, which bas its headquurters in it. The Union boped to own the buiiding, but has never suc- ceeded in amassing the necessary funds, For a time, though, it controlled the building’s management, and it bas tried hard to keep tobacco out of it But it has failed. It could not rent offices with an anti-smoking clause in the leases, and now asits control weakens, the cigar stand bas come. Let us hope the Union will keep its headquarters. in the Temple notwith- standing the cigars. The Union itself needs reforming, anda little fumigation may be good for it. Its intentions are reputable and virtuous, but it is narrow- minded and makes bad mistakes. It would like td make and enforce a set of rules that would make indulgences, which are doubtless inexpedient for some per- sons, unlawful for all, and that cannot be done ia large communities by legis. lation, Crime can be punished; weak- ness can in some degree be protected; many things that nced regulation can be regulated, ard some mischiefs can be heavily taxed. But it is impossible to abolish temptation. To mect tempta- tion and beat it, and to help other folks beat it, is part of the business of life. Dangerous as it is we could not spare it, for it is the great whirling stone that polishes character. vote “O HE woman suffragists are petitioning Congress to let women vote in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and the Sandwich Islands. There is another reform, and it ought not to be accom- plished. The Cubans ought to settle whether Cuban women are to vote. We don’t own Cuba and don’t expect to, and have no business to settle such a matter by act of Congress. comicbooks.com