THE WEAKNESS OF THE STRONG.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 52, 11 February 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE WEAKNESS OF THE STRONG.

Xo man tan b® tru, y strong until he Ims realised h» own wmkneei, and made good his defence* against it. Ho. as the greatest sinners often make the best saiute. strong characters may build themselves out of their weaaA weakness which will ruin one character may often prove thecjruer-stoiw of another when buttressed and stayed* hr stronger and nobler qualities. *or instance, the vanity which has ruined iMny men has inspired others to £»reat <«tcds. Prompted at first by vanity, a man may do go d works because ba desires credit in the eyes of h» fellow-men; but presently the increasing strength of a good habit of mind will kill out the very vanity which gave it birth, a nd you will find that man doing good by stealth, and ashamed to have it known. For iftcr all, the building of a character/:* our lawyers are just beginning to discover, is a progressive business. All of u- gxxl and bad, are like the curate s egg, excelled in parts, and it is only by giving our virtues full play, plenty of exercise, and plenty of fresh air that we can stimulate -bat healthy growth of character which will fight and kill the worst of u>. No man can say to himself that the edifice « f his good character is com-pk-te. Like any building or structure .-reeled by human hands. THE NECESSITY FOR ENLARGEMENT and widening ia always present, whilst deterioration and dilapidation at once commence if the vigilance of the master builder tail but for a little while. •‘You would never hare believed it of him!” is a comment often made when a man of previously good character makes a dip. ~ , . Ho poor soul, would never have believed rt of himself! Probably, till the temptation which broke the chain of his character at its weakest link came upon him, he had always regarded himself as a strong man, and. confident of his defences, had withdrawn those trusty Mentineh. Humility and Modesty. Hero is the chief weakness of the strong Too confident in their strength of character, they relax their wardenship of three frontiers which mark the dead straight line which lies between and wrong. Outside these frontier* the forces of foolishness and am are ever lying in wait to make a raid, and not til! he dies may the strongest man lay down his weapons against these enemies of good diameter. There are plenty of force* ever ready to lull the strong man into A SENSE OF FALSE SECURITY. To him congregate the flatterer, the aourtier, and the toady, ready to stupefy him. will he but allow them, with the increase cloud of their false praise and worship Together with strength, however, go wenkiMMHs which it should ever be the pride of strength to preserve—namely, nity, gentleness, and Aympaihy. There are wheacres who will tell you that a man is not a strong man who has rot robbed himself of all these attributes. and wo are often called upon to admire, amongst the more flashy «xamp*e* of cuceeas, the ruthleasnem •nd persistence with which a fighting man has knocked out his comuetitora. All this I* well and good. Certainly, THIS WORLD 18 NOT A NURSERY FOR BABIES.

«r a hospital far weaklings; yet may w» not reserve oar highest admiration far tho fighting man who can not only knock out his opponent, but can also find time to plaster the hurts of the mngndmd* A man who is truly strong is ever gentle and courteous to bis fellow-men. since in his strength he has no need to wear that angry, surly, or threatening front which the coward dons, like tho fighting mask of a savage, to inspire fear. Ho is gentle with women and children, pitiful to the weak, and has symnsthv for the sorrowful. He makes no narsh bargains. and, having the force of arms is often content to conquer by kindness alone. Such weaknesses the strong man can afford, and he who tores these first hostages to fortune will often find that strength will be given him to shelter such soft spots in his growing character.