hand a little rod, and in the other a golden apple; and she is pointing to an exceedingly narrow door.
Yes, the gate of life is narrow, and
rod and apple—chastisement and reward—are
necessary incentives urging
entrance. (Text.)
(1570)
INCERTITUDE
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle is responsible for the following story from Washington:
"Jadam," said Major McDowell, the clerk
of the House of Representatives, to J. Adam
Bede, of Minnesota, yesterday, "that was a
fine speech you made to-day, a fine speech."
"Yes, I thought it was a pretty good speech,"
Mr. Bede assented modestly. "It was an
extremely fine speech. It was logical and
had wit in it, and was delivered with great
declamatory effect. I listened to it with
much pleasure." "I am glad you liked it,"
chirruped Mr. Bede. "Indeed I did," the
Major continued, "and now, if it is betraying
no confidence, I'd like to ask you a
question." "Why, my dear Major," exclaimed
Bede, "of course I shall be glad to
do anything I can for you. Go ahead." 'Well,
Jadam," and the Major put a fatherly hand
on Bede's shoulder. "I wish you would tell
me which side of the question you are
really on."
(1571)
The representative of an English newspaper, sent some time since to Ireland to move about and learn by personal observation the real political mind of the people there, reported on his return that he had been everywhere and talked with all sorts, and that as nearly as he could make out the attitude of the Irish might be stated about thus: "They don't know what they want—and they are bound to have it."—Joseph H. Twichell.
(1572)
See Duality.
Incitement—See Inspiration, Sources of.
INCITEMENT
Very much of human discontent arises from first hearing our wrongs described by others:
Rufus Choate, the American lawyer, defended
a blacksmith whose creditor had
seized some iron that a friend had lent him
to assist in the business after a bankruptcy.
The seizure of the iron was said to have
been made harshly. Choate thus described
it: "He arrested the arm of industry as it
fell toward the anvil; he put out the breath
of his bellows; he extinguished the fire upon
his hearthstone. Like pirates in a gale at
sea, his enemies swept everything by the
board, leaving, gentlemen of the jury, not
so much—not so much as a horseshoe to
nail upon the door-post to keep the witches
off." The blacksmith, sitting behind, was
seen to have tears in his eyes at this description,
and a friend noticing it, said: "Why,
Tom, what's the matter with you? What
are you blubbering about?" "I had no
idea," said Tom in a whisper, "that I had
been so abominably ab-ab bused." (Text.)—Croake
James, "Curiosities of Law and
Lawyers."
(1573)
See Inspiration.
Incitement to Evil—See Responsibility
Evaded.
INCONSISTENCY
An anonymous writer in The Independent tells the following story as illustrating Mr. Hearst's belief that "money will buy the fruit of any man's work":
Some time ago a young writer applied to
him for employment on his New York
newspaper, and was engaged to fill a position
which would become vacant at the end
of a week, but in the interval the fact came
to the attention of a university professor
who had always taken an interest in his
advancement.
"I am sorry," said the good man, "that you should have chosen that particular school of journalism for your professional start." And he proceeded to descant upon the responsibility a journalist owed to society, the influence of one educated youth's example upon others of his class, the tone a writer inevitably took from the character of the journals he worked for, etc. "And your untarnished sense of self-respect, my young friend," he concluded, "will be worth more to you, when you reach my time of life, than all the salaries an unprincipled employer can pour into your purse."
So imprest was the neophyte with this lecture in morals that he called upon Mr. Hearst the next morning and announced that he had changed his mind about accept-
