Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-03

THE SATURDAY REvIEw's IDEAS OF THE OPERA.
TION.

THE SATURDAY KEvIEw's IDEAS OF THE OPERA
TIoN.
1t is often quite impossible Tor the most
intimate friends and closest observers to
specify all the influences which have COM
bined to bring about this state of mind in any
given instance Yet this does not hinder us
from supposing that the process is always ut
bottom perfectly natural one. One cir
cumstance of the case which seems to bo
commonly overlooked is the special predis-
position to the amatory sentiment which
shows itself III certain stages of develop
ment and III certain transient moods. 1t Is
not too much to say. perhaps, that most pco-
pie fall IN love ut given time because of
special conditions of the moment. II had
not presented himself or herself as an oh
ject for the impulse B or c wouli probably
have suiiiced. This way of looking ut the
matter will no doubt appear shocking to the
romantic mind, yet the idea seems to have
firm substratnm of fact.
1t would bo interesting to know what part
the process oi falling in love is destined to
play in the future history of mankind. \ re
view of the past development of the custom.
from primitive times TO our own enlightened
age, suggests the reelection that il has tend
ed to become slower and more conscious
operation. IL is not many people who now
tumble suddenly and rccklcssly into this con-
ditIon of mind Culture seems to have the
effect Of transforming the process ot falling
into one of sliding. To refer again Ia II
somewhat analogous mental experience. cnl-
ture seems Ia make less frequent both sud
den forms of falling i'll love and sudden con
version. This change Is plainly due in n
Lnrge measure 10 II growth of yoliilonal force
All falling i'll love Is, of course. the diIect
,tlr,t N nm involuntary unl .nnntInunl inn
pulse ; yet negative act of will may per-
hnps bo said To be involved in the ,.on-re-
preston of this impulse. AS people advance
III intellect and character, the ascendancy of
the will increases and the nmutory scnti-
ment IL only allowed to attach itself to an
object very slowly and after the fullest criti
cal investigation. 1t Is not necessary to
adopt the ultra-prosaic supposition that scX-
ual selection will ever become purely vol
untary action. 1t il commonly said that
more and more persons now marry for def
mite objects, such as wealth, social position
or domestic adornments yet the normal
mode of selection is still held to include the
play of an instructive emotion as well. What
the higher culture seems to do, over and
above Strengthening the controlling power of
Will. ls to make tins emotion more reflective
and self conscious. People learn to under
stand more clearly then own feelings and
tastes, and to know better beforehand what
kind Of object is likely to satisfy them. The
emotional impulse now shows itself ~ II con
scious wish to possess an object OF certain
definite character. Still the actual concep-
tion Of strong affection iS II process that
goes outside the will, though the will may he
said To approve OF it in new sense when its
result Ii recognized AZ agreeing with II pre-
existing wish and desire. We hardly think,
prediction that falling IN love is rapidly he
coming an obsolete custom. The experience
will probably grow much less violent and
catastrophe IN ITS character by becoming
brought into closer relation to the intellectual
ana volitional parts of the mind. And the
same influences which bring about this effect
will no doubt tend to tone down peoples rap
turous faith III the occult and scentiant
nature Of the process