THE GOOD FELLOW.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 72, 12 September 1874, Page 12

THE GOOD FELLOW.

We wonder if "the good fellow" ever mistrusts his goodness, orreahses how selfish, how weak, how unprincipled, and how bad a fellow he truly is. He never regards the consequences of his acts as " they relate to others, and especially those of his own family friends Little fits of generosity towards them are supposed to atone for all his misdeeds, *hile he inflicts upon the* the disgraces, inconveniences, and burdens winch attend a selfishly dissolute life. The invitation ot a * • n '#« ta ? nts ° f g ood -natured boon companions, the temptationsof jolly fellowship, these are enough to overcome all his scruples if ho has any scruples, and to lead him to ignore all the possible results to those who love him best, and who must oare for him in sickness and all the unhappy phases of his selfish life. The good fellow is notoriously careless of his family. Any outside friend can lead him withersoever he will— into debauchery, idleness, ragabondaee. Hecan ask a favor, and it is done. He can invite him into disgrace and* he goes. He can direct him into a job of dirty work, and he straightway undertakes it. He can tempt him into any indulgence winch* may suit his viciouß whims, and, regardless of wife, mottiar, or sister who may be shortened in their sources so as legitimately to claim hi*protecting hand—regardless of honor, of father, and brother— he will spend his money, waste his time, and make himself a subject of constant and painful anxiety, or an unmitigated nuisance to those alone who care a straw for him. What pay does he receive for his painful sacrifice ? The honor of being considered a good fellow, with a set of men who would not spend a cent for him if they should see hint starving, and who would laugh at his calamities. When he dies in the ditoh, as he is most likely to die, they breathe a sigh over the swilL they drink, and say, '/after all he was a good fellow." The featureof the good fellow's case which makes it well nigh hopeless is, that hethinks lie is a good fellow. He thinks his pliable disposition, his readiness to do other good fellows a service, and his jolly ways atone for all his faults. His love of praise is fed by his companions, and thus hi* self-complacency is nursed. Quite unaware that his fellowship is the result ot his weakness ; quite unaware that hit sacrifice of honor, and peace of his family, for the sake of outsjde praise, is the offspring of the most heartless selfishness j quite unaware that his disregard of the interest and feelings of those who are bound to him by the closest ties of blood is the demonstration of his utterly unprincipled character* he carries an unruffled or a jovial front, while hearts bleed or break arouDd him. Of all the scamps society knows, the traditional good fellow is the most despicable. A man, who; for the sake of his°own selfish delights, or the sake" of the praise of carefess or unprincipled friends, make his home a scene of anxiety and torture, aud degrades and disgraces all who are associated with him in his home life, if* whether he knows it or not, a brute. If a man cannot be loyal to his home, and to those who love him, then he cannot be loyal toauytbing that is good. There is something mean beyond description ia any man who cares more for anything in this world than the honor, the confidence, and love of his family. There is something radically wrong in such a man, and the quicker/and more thoroughly he realises it, in a humiliation which bend 3 him to the earth in shame and con« fusion, the better for him. The traditional good fellow is a bad follow from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot. He is as weak as a baby, vain as a peacock, selfish as a pig, and as unprincipled as a \ thief. He ltas not one redeeming trait upon which a reasonable selirespect can be built'and braced. Give us the bad fellow, who stands by his personal and family honor, who sticks to his own, who does not " treat 1 ' his friends while his home is in need of the money he wastes,, and who gives himself no indulgence of good fellowship at the expense of duty ! A. man with whom the approving smile of a wife, or mother, or sister, does not weigh more than a thousand crazy bravoes of booncompanions, is just no man at all.— ' Scribner's.'

The Dublin correspondent of the Philadelphia * Standard,' has the following with reference to Dublin improvements :—": — " As regards. the good city of Dublin, it is also improving, and" can bear favorable comparison witli a great many cities in the matter of architectural beauty. In aIL our principal streets are numerous splendid stone buildings, not thought of twenty yoars ago. Our post office has been greatly improved in outward appearance, and inside are increased conveniences for the transit of mails. Trinity College looks young w.th its new railings and handsome stone walls. In the move important matter of commerce, too, JJublin will shortly vie with many ports in the sister isle. New docks have been recently opened, whiili bring the ships far iuto the northern side of the city. A railway tuun?l hasbean commenced, wnich will run from the different railway stations to the water's edge. Some of your readers who have not visited JJubliu tor years, would be really surprised at the stir business has got. Onca o iv CJal fields commence to be properly worked, we will be pretty independent of England. It is, I understand, in contemplation todeepen the entrance to the Liffey, so that ships of any tonnage can. safely enter it.

■=•