[Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson]@TWC D-Link book
Lay Morals

CHAPTER IV
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It is possible, for instance, that you, who seem to have so many ears in Kalawao, had heard of the affair of Mr.Chapman's money, and were singly struck by Damien's intended wrong-doing.

I was struck with that also, and set it fairly down; but I was struck much more by the fact that he had the honesty of mind to be convinced.

I may here tell you that it was a long business; that one of his colleagues sat with him late into the night, multiplying arguments and accusations; that the father listened as usual with 'perfect good-nature and perfect obstinacy'; but at the last, when he was persuaded--'Yes,' said he, 'I am very much obliged to you; you have done me a service; it would have been a theft.' There are many (not Catholics merely) who require their heroes and saints to be infallible; to these the story will be painful; not to the true lovers, patrons, and servants of mankind.
And I take it, this is a type of our division; that you are one of those who have an eye for faults and failures; that you take a pleasure to find and publish them; and that, having found them, you make haste to forget the overvailing virtues and the real success which had alone introduced them to your knowledge.

It is a dangerous frame of mind.

That you may understand how dangerous, and into what a situation it has already brought you, we will (if you please) go hand-in-hand through the different phrases of your letter, and candidly examine each from the point of view of its truth, its appositeness, and its charity.
Damien was _coarse_.
It is very possible.


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