The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-12-16

L call 1t cultivated selfshness."
J "You are rather ruthless in your on
slaught upon the common ideas How
can this be true and so many be deceiv-
ed"
Because the effect is precisely the
same, be selfishness, or cultivation, or vir-
tue the cause. l win have you understand
that selfshness is no longer the horned,
4 long haired monster, that once frightened
men. He has learned that he can catch
twice the prisoners in his tolls if he puts
4 on pleasant dress, 80 tbs selfishness of
the nineteenth century is arrayed in the
complete garb of a gentleman"
| "You must have terribly low opinion
of yourself, to judge the race SO severe
lly."s
"I have, Miss Lewis" answered Mason,
Fsolemnly; and after moments thought
went on - reason, too, that if men
were unselfsh, it would show itself to all
alike; if distinction is made, it proves
the metal spurious, think"
""But how can society exist in its pleas
ant relations, if the joints are not moist
ened with the milk of human kind
ness ~ $50
Admitting, perhaps, that disinteres
ted love exists, there is beyond doubt a
frightfully small percentage Of it,"
We'll, "-assents the listener
Well, there is enough to oil every
joint, and wet every cog wheel, and pro-
duce such wonderful concord as common,
! ly exists in society's select circles. Don't
you see that would be claiming something
very near perfection, for some castles Of
society? The upper classes are beyond
doubt the most peaceable; are these, then,
so much more holy in the motives. which
influence them? No, l consider that sci
ishness in refinement governs society,
and when men quarrel, it is, in most
cases. because selfishness is not yet entirely
combined with prudence?"
"Then you think selfshness is uniYer-
sal and all controlling?"
"No, think true religion puts better
principle in the heart"
"You condemn all else?"
A significant silence. Miss Lewis broke
it's bonds
:" You see man give his fortune to
feed the poor; perhaps you hear of de-
voted woman who chases her lover
through life to keep him from harm, or
to put her body between harm and him
you see a mother cheerfully give her life
to save her child; you see the soldier
step unfinchlngly into the very jaws of
death there are instances to show that
some nobility exists in the soul, which
may be brought out by the most powerful
of stimulants."
"Just enough to intefere with the per-
feet work of selfshness."
"Just enough, too, to preserve our, con
fidence in the race. Under the worst of
influences, disinterested love appears to
die out from the heart under the best,
it buds forth and blossoms nobly. You
see the one effect and you naturally pro
nounce all men liars and hypocrites, and
society hollow to the core. You see the
other and you enthusiastically declare
men demigods, and earth possible para
disc. You mingle the two and let each
limit the other and you have the proba-
BILE truth"
"But," said Mason, slowly, mayhap a
man has never rest from the singing
blows, administered to him by society. Its
nobilit1es are never shown toward him.
He is left only to view its cruelties."
j "Perhaps every blow has a use. If
men are ever to fill the places in heaven
once occupied by Satan's myriad spirits,
then bright and pure angels shining with
| light borrowed from Jehovah's glory, they
must be tried by the sternest fire and tenn
pered well, and if they can bear it and
come forth from the forge, easily trans-
forlnable if not already transformed into
the likeness of God, then the heavenly
places, empty since the fall Of the angels,
may be taken by them, the tried seed OF
Adam. Let these tried ones see to it that
their sorrows and pains have not been in
vain, in fitting them for everlasting hap
piness. 3.s
"Let us walk little" broke IN Mason
suddenly; and the pretty speaker blush
ed beautifully and looked a little annoy
ed, as she rose and complied.
Week after week passed away and Miss
Lewis was still in fashionable society
! Still Mr. Mason met her evening after
evening, talked with her, and left her to
meet her the next time coldly and guard
edly But Miss Lewis was q beautiful
woman, and could not long be shut up to
one distant attendant, and soon the whole
corps of eligible young and old gentle
men were futtering around her, and left
no room for homely men. So thought
Mr. Mason, as he came home to his rooms,
one evening, after he had seen her occu-
pied every moment, with one or another
Of suitors So what would this queer fell
low do when he entered his rooms but
imagine how very pleasant it would be to
have certain little woman sit in the arm
chair, and welcome him with smile.
But instead ne was alone, and was likely
to remain so forever, for though probably
he could marry some one to his money,
there appeared to hima very small chance.
of any one that was lovely, loving him,
the homely man. There he must sit day
after day, and evening after evening,