Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-01-19
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Written for the Fremont Journal.
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tastes. NO augmentation Gan Ooh'AnNN - -
that thing which is repulsive to him, is pleas
ing. whether it be the physical, the mental
or the moral taste that is concerned, any object
that is disagreeable is simply an object OF aver
sion, and no disputing of individuals whose
tastes are unlike can change the character OF
those tastes, or bring them into harmony. Say
20 one who dislikes what you like, that he
doesn't know what is good" And hisefeet-
ual retort is-aIt does not suit my TASTE" You
may defend your position, but you can only
say ~ like it" and he, ''I don't like il" That
is the length of your logical rope. Neither
convinces the other. You may prove to
man that he ought to like this and dislikethat
and so on; but your demonstration does not
alter his tastes. After all, he finds gratlhcatlon
Just as he did before. IL
But the old adage above cited does not ex-
haust the truth that is TO be stated in regard to
tastes of all kinds. If we suppose that our
tastes are absolute, Interchangeable, and without
character as toright and wrong, we are mistaken.
There are some things to be said going to show
that the question of our improvement depends
largely upon our tastes.
Well then, first, Tastes are significant index
es, Physically, mans taste draws him to the
use of intoxicating drinks. He loves rum,
whiskey, brandy, gin, one or all, or such things
generally. What of it, Simply this, that his
taste indicates depravity. He loves hurtful
things. The taste cannot be healthful Or,
man turns away with loathing from nutricious
foodl What now? His taste indicates some
kind of disease. There is an abnormal state OF
the stomach, or some of the functions OF the
body; for the healthy, strong man relishes
wholesome food. Put the case intellectually.
Here are thousands of people who have no taste
whatever for the reading or study of books of
history, science, or anything truly substantial.
They can read newspapers, perhaps, which
give merely the news of the day. But to take
up treatise conveying thorough knowledge
of substantial subject and requiring study
and thought--they have no taste for that
Many do worse than this and are led by their
tastes to read stories and novels OF the lightest
class. Other people have no taste or but little,
sor light literature but take delight In reading
that which imparts true knowledge. Does not
this difference of intellectual tastes indicate
two different levels of mental life, one high
and noble, the other low and unworthy. Con-
slider the matter as to recreations. All busy
people need recreatiOns. But what differ
ence in their choicesl Some are truly invigo-
rated by choice lecture, a concert of music
composed by the great masters, or an evenings
conversation about sensible and weighty SUBJ
iects. Others want the low harangue, the fool
cries of negro ministrelsy, and the light and
trifing gossip of mere news-mOngers. Is there
nothing indicated by this difference of taste?-
Consider the matter in its moral phases. Some
are led by their tastes to the gaming table, the
place of intoxication and revelry. Others
choose the pleasures of virtue, or also those of
religion. One man joins the circle of intem-
perance and coarse jests and profanity, because
he delights in !. -. Another man joins the cir
Gle Ct v;rtuous association and rational enjoy
ment or the circle of prayer and praise, be-
cause he finds pleasure there. Is not this dIt-
fe,ence of the taste indicative of two very diff
se,ent moral states of mems character?
But tastes are not only indexes. They are.
also povers. They ever elevate or depress-
They degrade or ennoble. They have power
full logic. They look to their owl. Perpetua-
ton. They drive man along in life They SOW
seeds. They reap harvests. The taste for
intoxicating drinks urges along in the path to
drunkenness, debauchery, delirium, death
The taste for frivolous pleasures tends to light
ness and weakness of character. The people
who do not like to labor and to think are ever
roino down to worthlessness of character. On
the other hand, the taste for temperate habits,
and for noble, substantial pursuits ever tends to
nbvsical and mental and moral elevation. -
There can be no doubt of this. Everybody
knows it. - j ~ =. - 3 ~ -
Here the question comes up: Are we then
mere creatures of our fastest Must we be
driven by them where they will? 1t is plainly
not a reliable and sure rule Of life that one may
follow his tastes without question. Tastes do
not slways conform to reason. 1t is the bon
dace of MANY that their convictions indicate
one path as safe and true, and their tastes draw
to another. knowing the better they are ever
doing the worse. Indeed, there Is no man VINO
is wholly ignorant of this bondage There is
no safety without setting power over taste, to
regulate, guide, control it. And this may be
done. Though men may not be able to COM
mand their tastes directly, they may system
atically modify control and develOpe them
This requires work, self-denial But without
work. self-denial, there is no excellence. So,
if you discern that you ought to find satisfac-
tion in. that which now has no attractions for
YOU. cultivate taste for it. If you have any
appetite which is wrong or injurious, refuse it
qualification, till it is rooted out of your being.
Learn to delight in ethings that are excellent.
There is no other path to true nobleness. Not
10 do this, is to be drone, sluggard. Only
the men who see the right the good, the ennobl-
ing, and seeing it, strive ever to reach it'-only
these are true mon. The true man is the MAS
TER, nor the servant of his tastes. : B.