The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-10-30

source of hasty Inference ana dclusivc
misconccption.. May not one see illus,
trations of tliis tendency in theegrcat lin,
bility of both men and women to dclude
themselves with respect to the characters
which they choose for the matrimonial
relation? 1t is not only the'in, ocen. girl
which commits this error, by fondly i'm
agining in the absence of evidence, that
her lover must necessarily share her own
pure thoughts; the highly cultivated man,
too, may fall into it, by. taking it for
granted that the young Woman whom
he selects shis most intimate companion
feel the same higli' aspirations that lie
himself feels. -
\ The other influences which appear to
favour this impatielfce of belief with re-
spect to the characters of others are spe-
cial emotional forces. The operation of
feeling in sustaining assurance even
when there is the minimum of evidence
has been a favoritc theme philosophers.
There are two modes Of this operation,
according rs the feeling prcdisposcs to
belief in any shape or favors some par
ticular vhlety of conviction. Both of
these modes may be illustrated in the
class of beliefs of which we are now
speaking. An example of the first is
given us in the action of Il love of power
on our observation of others characters
y readiness in unravclling the threads of
human sentiment and purpose has al
ways been looked OH as q ground for self
graduation and for the admiration of
others. A man who thinks himself ca
pable of divininr instantaneouslya an
others unspokcn thoughts has not only
the pleasing consciousness of power
which every supposition of knowledge
brings with it, but also Il gratifying feel
ing of equality with this second person
That is to say, he thinks himself on Il
level with this other III respect to the(
knowledge of any thoughts or impulses
which may occur to him. Not only 50,
but the assumption of this omniscicnt
insight into character will pretty GER
tainly inspire awe, if not dread, in many
other minds, SO that the man or woman
who can make any prctcnsions to this
fine penetration will he able to indulge
IN the most delicious emotions of power
md superiority. A supposition. SO in
:cnsely gratifying as this must be will j
pretty certainly be secure from that
close scrutiny and careful vcrification
which alone would prove its validity
The feelings Which predispose men to-
a prior certain kind of notion
NSE' SpiiiSo CliuluCltI VI olilclS arc
e 19 ta hs aMclt
There is the desire for sympathy, Which
S very strong in most minds, and which
prompts Il person to anticipate that
,very new character will respond in a
Kind Of grateful resonance to his indivi
lual sentiments. Then there are the
impulses of love and admiration which
oredisrosc the mind to believe in human
goodness and render it optimistic in it's
Of character. On the other 5
hand, there are the less pleasing senti- .
mcnts of distrust, hostility, and con- /
tempt, which sustain the conception
that everybody is mean and ignoblc till
nc has proved himself to lie the contrary.
These and other feelings always dispose
their posscssols to form certain opinions
espccting any new character long before
hey have the necessary foundation for {
such opinions TO any one who will
give himself the trouble of working out
The many and complicated influences
which tend to produce conviction re-
specting matters of character, quite apart
from the force of evidence, it can not be
that peoples judgments on
the ideas and motives of others are often
SO crude and incxact, and SO little de-
serving to be called intuitions.