The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-09

In the drst place, il people are to live hap
PLY together, they must not fancy because
they arc thrown together now, thai oil their
lives have been exactly similar up to the
present time, that they started exactly alike,
and that they are to be for the future Of the
same mind. A thorough conviction of the
difference OF men Ia the great thing TO be as
sured Of in social knowledge; il is to life
what Newton's law IL to astronomy. Some,
times men have knowledge of it with re-
gard to the world in general; they do not ex-
pect the outer world to agree with them in oil
points, but are vexed at not being able to
drive their own tastes and opinions into those
they live with. Universities distress them
They will not see that there are many forms
of virtue and wisdom. Yet we might as we'll
say, "why all these stars; why this difference;
why not oil one star 2''
Many of the rules for people living togeth-
er in peace follow from the above. For in
stance, not to interfere unreasonably with
others, not to ridicule their tastes, not to
question and re-question their resolves, not
to indulge in perpetual comment on their
proceedings, and to delight in their having
other pursuits than ours, are all based upon
thorough perception Of the simple fact that
they are not we.
Another rule for living happily with others
ir to avoid having stock subjects Of disputa-
ton. IL mostly happens, when people live
much together that they come TO have certain
set topics, round which, from frequent dis
pute, there 10 such growth Of angry words,
mortified vanity, and the like, that the origi-
nal subject OF difference becomes standing
subject Of quarrel !; and there is a tendency
in oil minor disputes to drift down to it.
Ana tp 70 Ia oh lea. II
they must not hold to much to logic, and
suppose that everything is to be settled by
sufficient reason. DR.. johnson saw this
clearly with regard to married people when
he said, 'Wretched would be the pair above
nil names Of wretchedncss who should be
doomed to adjust by reason, every morning
all the minute details Of domestic day -
But the application should be much more
general than he made it. There il no time
Tor such reasonings, and nothing that is worth
them. And when We rec0llect how two law
yers, or two politicians, can 60 on contend
ing, and that there is no end OF one sided
reasoning on any subject, we shall not be
sure that such contention is the best mode OF
arriving at truth but certainly it IL not the
way to arrive at good temper.
If you would be loved as a companion
avoid unnecessary criticism upon those with
whom you live. The number Of people who
have taken out judges patents for them
selves lie very large in any society. Now, it
would be hard for man to live with another
who was always oriticising his actions, even
il il were kindly and just criticism. would
be like living between the glasses Of micro
scope. But these self-elected judges, like
their prototypes, are very apt to have the
persons they judge brought before them in
the guise of culprlts. One Of the most pro-
voking forms Of the criticism above alluded
to is that which may be consulted''
you listened TO me''--"But you always will''
and such short scraps of sentences, NAV
remind many of us of dissertations which We
have suffered and inflicted, and Of which We
cannot call to mind any soothing effect.
Another rule is, not to let Familiarity swAl-
low up all courtesy. Many Of US have hab-
ii of saying to those with whom we live such
things as We say about strangers behind their
backs. There is no place, however, where
real poiteness is Of more value than where
We mostly think 1t would be superhuous.
You may say more truth, or rather speak out
more plainly to your associates, but not less
courteously than you do to strangers.
Again we must not expect more from the
society OF our friends and companions than
il can give; and especially must not expect
contrary things. Ii is somewhat arrogant to
talk Of travelling over other minds. (mnd be-
ing, for what we know, infinite, but still we
become familiar with the upper views, tastes
and tempers Of our associates and il is hard
ly in man to estimate justly what is familiar
TO him. In travelling along at night, %
HASN'T says, We catch q glimpse into cheer
FIJI looking rooms, with light blssing in them,
and We conclude involuntarily how happy the
inmates must be. Yet there 10 heaven and
hell ia these rooms, the same heaven and hell
that We have known in others.-I Friends in
Council.