New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-24


-, - - ,,,nybts and feelings furnish often causes
msoonstrueton Is indeed truth familiar even 10 tne
vulgar But while among members OF inc saho sooey,
having natures nearly akin, II Is seen that autoorpno
explanations often erroneous IL is not seen VIII" u"
aroass how much more erroneous such explanations
commonly are when the actions are those OF men Oh
another race 10 whom the hn'hp in nature Is compare
lively remote We do, indeed perceive this IL tue lhVer-
preaions are not our own aud both the Interpreters
and the interpreted distant in thought and nature
from ourselves. When, rs in early English literature
we find Greek history conceived in terms OF feudal ins
tutons and the heroes OF antiquity spoken OF princes
knights and squires it becomes clear to US that the
ideas concerning ancient civilization must have been ut
terly wrong. When apd Virgil adopted BY Dante as
his guide, and named elsewhere as one among the
prophets who visited the cradle OF Chrstwhen aniius-
trated psater gives from the life OF chs, IN
which there peatedly figures castle with poi'ouis
when even the Crucixion is described by Langand IN
the language OF chvary, that the man VINO pierceu
Chrsts side with spear is considered as knight VINO
dsgraced his knighthoed-when We read OF tho Cru-
saders calling themselves vassas OF Christi we need no
further proof that by carrying their own senumehS'
and ideas, and habits, to the Interpretation OF SOCIAL ar
engagements aud transactions among the Jews our ahceS
tors we're led into absurd misconceptions. But we ds
not recognize the fact that virtue OF the same ten
dency we are ever framing conceptions which, If not so
groesquey untrue yet very wide Of the truth How
difficult it Is to imagine mental states remote rom
our own SO correctly that can understand how
they issue IN Individual actions, aud consequently IN
social actions, an instance will make manifest"
Indeed il is almost as impossible to put complex con-
ception into q mind not having adequately complex
faculty as to At hand with five fingers into glove with
four. Just in proportion thought presents mahod
aspects be comprehended except by the action
OF manifold elements OF the intellect. aud II part oil
| these elements wanting only fragments OF the
thought and not the thought whole can be taken IN
One who does not possess sufficient completely OF intel
lec to grasp complex conception is usually unaware OF
the nferorty To imagine hghermode Of consciousness
is In some degree possess IT, so that unless he has 10 III
some degree, be cannot conceive OF its existence
Take child your knee, and, turnn over with him
some engravngs OF landscapes note what he ODserNes
see man in a boat says he pointing Look at the
cows coming down the HIM. And Sec there Is httie
boy playing with dog These and other such remarks
mostly about the living objects in each view are all You
get from Never by any chance does nc utter Woru
respecting whole. There Is an absolute u
consciousness OF anything to be observed or 10 DC
pleased with in the combination of wood and water and
mountain And while the child Is entirely without this
complex aesthetic Consciousness you see that he has not
the remotcst idea that such consciousness exists IN
Others but Is wanting himself Take, now, case In
which kindred defect is betrayed by adult You
have perhaps In the course OF your life, had some nu-
steal culture and can recall the stages through which
You have passed In early days symphony was mys
terry and YOU were somewhat puzzled 10 find others APP
/ III,
went on slowly through succeeding years. brought
some appreciation and these complex musical COM
binatOns, which gave yOutle or no pleasure give
you more pleasure than any others Remembering all
this you begin suspect that Indifference 10 Ger
tain III involved musical combinations may arse
from incapacity in you, aud defects in them
See the other hand, what happens with one who has
undergone no such series of changessay old naval
officer whose life at kept him out Of the way OF con-
certs nd operas hear him occasionally confess on
,,,,sah In fha
the last cadences of sonata which young lady has just
played are still your he goes up to her and asks
whether she can play Polly put the Kettle on or
johnny comes marching home And then, when con-
cers are talked at table, he seizes the occasion
for expressing his dislike OF classical music, and scarcely
eoneeals his contempt FOR those who go hear it, On
contemplating his mental state, you that, along with
absence tho faculty for grasping complex musical
combinations there goes no consciousness OF the 40
sence-here suspicion that such complex eomoina
tons exist ana that other persons haVo Iaeuues lor MP
precating them"
An editorial article Oh death OF Mr. Greeley brings
into notice one feature OF his activity which, in the VIDE
grasp powers and the versatility OF their appca
tiou is not always made prominent as Is required Dy
comprehensive sense OF justice TO his character one
Of the rcatest personalities Of our country has just
passed away. We have little to add 10 the strain Of
euogy thai has heard in all parts OF the land con
corning the life and character OF the late Mr. Greeley
That lie has filed large space in public attention for
y le
erted an extensive influence for good upon the American
.,ple during that long period entities his to be
written high il the rolls Of public honor. He IL to DO
gratefully remembered because OF his large capac
ties and extensive influence but because he used his
powers in tue best service of his fellow lie
worked in The direction of social ameoraon and public
Improvement Believing in the power of ideas, the
value of knowledge ana the vital needOf general educa-
tom and that the progress of society IS internal con
ructlye work Of its citizens depending upon virtue, in
dustry and intelligence ne established Journal ded-
Gated 20 these Objects and developed t Into great and
nowerfal institution for moldug the public mind, and
eeyatng the public character. For thousands OF fam
lilies scattered all over this land, the newspaper founded
by Mr. Greeley has played the part of "a peoples uni
versity-aYousing aud stimulating multi,udes OF the
youpg TO enter upon the work of self-improve
ment or 10 seek instruction in academies, hghschOols,
or colleges OF ali this It I, superluous 10 speak, It's
living witnesses may he eyerywherelmet, while the pub
lie press has done full justice TO the magnitude and salu
tary influence of Mr. Greeeys work Bat. there is one
point in regard TO his mental character upon which
few words may not be here ont OF place Mr Greeley
made the most OF his opportunities Of sef-educat0n
He read widely in critical literature and attained mas
tershp of his swn language which few OF the largest
opportunities Of culture have equaed It has
tomary with many, TO lament that Mr.. Greeley
without the advantages OF regular collegiate course OF
study But he was never much troubled by this alleged
deficiency. He saw too much OF the influence of
colleges in turning ont waste acqus tons, unavailable
faculty and capacities unadapted to the times to regret
very deeply that he had not beeniexposed TO the
peril This been often attributed TO the ignorant
egotlsn Of the seflnade man, but, we think, very
enormously; for Mr.. Greeley did, have his profound
regrets at his mental shortcomings and defective
culture. He deplored the circumstances Of his |
early life, which gave him chance to acquire |
the rudimens Of science We have often heard him |