THOSE BEHIND THE SCENES

Evening Star, Issue 22687, 29 June 1937, Page 13

THOSE BEHIND THE SCENES

THE REAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD

By the time those words are road everybody will have been discussing the British Budget, and will know what taxation he has to face for the next 12 months (writes Mr Lewis Williams,in the ‘lnquirer’). “The introduction of the Budget and tho discussion thereon always cause groat excitement. This reminds me of a striking incident that occurred when Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer and introduced one of his famous Budgets. The clerk who was responsible for a certain item made an error involving an enormous sum of money. Relying on the statement given to him, Gladstone got wrong with his figures; and as soon as the mistake was detected there was consternation in the minds of his friends and derision on the lips of, his enemies.

“ When tho clerk was called to explain how he had fallen into so grave an error his feelings were not to be envied. Severe blame and the anger of the great statesman were the least ho, could expect. Instant dismissal was a possibility. What, then, must he have felt when Gladstone greeted him with these words: ‘ I have sent for you to tell you how well and gratefully I appreciate the services you have so frequently rendered me. It was only the mistake you made that opened my eyes to see with what care and accuracy yoil have for so many years prepared the enormous statistics -with which you have provided me for these occasions.’ Those words, at such a time, could only have come from a fine, generous spirit. Gladstone was big enough to put his own annoyance in the background and to refuse to punish his subordinato_ for making one mistake, however serious, in tho course of faithful and difficult work.

“ It takes a great man to do that sort of a thing. Does it not remind us of the Greatest of Men? To the woman . who had sinned and whom others wanted to make an object of derision, He said: ‘ Neither do I condemn thee.’ He sent her away with encouraging words to make a new start. Instead of harping on faults and failings Ho looked for the redeeming feature and made tho most of that. “ We ought to do more of that in everyday life. We take labours and kindnesses without uttering a word of appreciation for month after month, and then, when something happens to go wrong, wo fasten on that and forget all faithful and exact services. That is not helpful to the happiness, of home life.' “ We often think how we would like this world to be better than it is. What a different world it would be if all of us treated each other as Gladstone treated his clerk. No one can feel happy, and no one can do his best in an atmosphere of fault finding. How much better wo can do things when words of encouragement are expressed to us—when we look at the world with all its difficulties and troubles and shortcomings, think more of the brighter side than of the dark; take the hopeful view of everything, so far as we possibly can. “ This matter of the Budget and the clerk reminds us of another point which we are too apt to forget, which is, that a prominent statesman when he stands up to. make an important statement on any subject has to depend on men in the background who prepare the figures and look up, the facts . for him. These men are not known to the public, and never come into the limelight, but what would the famous statesman do without them? And so it is everywhere. One man does the spade work, and another gets tho credit. That is how the world goes on. To a large extent, this cannot be helped, but we ought to try to find out those in tho background, and encourage them and reward them according to their services. ‘“This is a matter that belongs to individuals as well as to a nation or society. All of us have people in the background on whom wo depend for various comforts aud helps. The father and mother who toiled hard and sacrificed much to give us education and a fair start in life; the wife who is always quietly looking after us and trying to help us in every way; the people who labour to provide us with food and other necessaries of life. Are we as appreciative as wo should be? Do w T e realise tho kind feelings and the love that is behind these actions? Do we try to emulate these in their kind intentions ? “ Life is a stage on which wonderful things are done; and all tho time there are people behind tho scenes without whose thought and labour the great drama could not he kept going. Everyone of us would be better if wo remembered that.”