Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1904 — COMPENSATION. [ARTICLE]

COMPENSATION.

All Thlmr* Are to B« Had if One Will bat Pay the Equivalent. Life consists almost wholly of buying, selling, paying. There are no gifts, nothing that does not call for an equivalent. If we cannot pay for gifts in kind we must pay in gratitude or service or we shall rank as moral bankrupts. If I would have a good situation I must pay for it not only in labor, but in promptness, intelligence, faithfulness and good manners. If I w’ould have good service I must pay not only in money, but in consideration, recognition, appreciation, fairness. I can bold no one to me if I misuse him. All things are to be had for tlie buying. Would you have friends? Then pay the price. The price of friendship Is to be worthy of friendship. The j price of glory is to do something glorious. The price of shame is to do something shameful. Friendship, glory, honor, admiration, courage, infamy, contempt, hatred, are all in the market place for sale at a j price. We are buying and selling these i things constantly as we will. Even beauty is for sale. Plain women can | gain beauty by cultivating grace, animation, pleasant speech, intelligence, helpfulness, courage or good will. Beauty is n«t in the features alone; it ! is in the soul also. Good will buys good will, friendliness buys friendship, confidence begets confidence, service rewards service, and hate pays for hate, suspicion for suspicion, treachery for treachery, : contempt for ingratitude, slovenliness, | laziness and lying. I We plant a shrub, a rosebush, an orchard, with the expectation that they will pay us back. We build roads, mend harness and patch the roof with the same expectation. We will trust even these unconscious things to pay their debts. Some of our investments are good and some are bad. The good qualities we acquire—moderation, industry, courtesy, order, patience, candor—are sound investments. Our evil institutions and habits are bad investments, involving us in losses. We become debtors to them, and they are exacting creditors, forcing payment in full in money and labor and sometimes in blood, agony, tears, humiliation or shame. From “Balance: The Fundamental Verity,” by Orlando J. Smith.