Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/456

 436 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

business, and social relations they have continual unpleasant- nesses.

( 2 ) The immediate source of most of our minor sorrows is unkind and unfair treatment from others. We are cheated, and our money does not go as far as wanted. Our interests clash with a neighbor's, and we find ourselves losing reputation through false witness. Our motives areproved low, ourpersonal character shady, our business practices dishonest, our credit a bluff. If weak, guilty or not, we are downed, and our neighbor profits. The period of the struggle is painful, even if we win. The ethical boss is frequent. He decides our affairs of home and heart, and is pleasant or lowering according as we fulfill or not his judgments of what we ought to have done. Impoliteness, intended or ignorant or careless, causes many a pang and anger. We cease to be useful to old friends, and find ourselves neglected. All these incidents show that the self-interest of our associates needs to be held in check by respect for ideals of justice, courtesy, and love. What causes sorrow when administered by a neighbor is much more destructive of happiness when com- ing from a wife, husband, or child. Many a hair grows gray and face care-worn because someone from whom we do not want to be free is not controlled by ethical ideals to act and speak in love.

And we discover people with a genius for friendship, whose souls understand our sorrows and ambitions, and who would not do us wrong. Life is at its best when we are associated with these, and although other elements enter to make them what they are to us, we recognize that they could not be to us what they are, were not their understanding and practice of fine con- duct so perfect. If the public schools administered an effective ethical discipline, they would tend to produce a community ethical homogeneity that would make it easier for the child to grow into perfect socialization with his environment, and many a life otherwise criminal or malcontent might become a success. The number of unpleasantnesses arising from miscon- duct would surely be reduced — a gain for us all in city and in home.