The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-02-08
The Bane OF Habit.

Habits in little things exercise a petty
tyranny which is most degrading. A man
cannot do anything without observing
lot Of preliminary forms +; he must have
slept just 80 many hours, have risen at
regular time, have breakfasted ON beaf-
steak and coffee, have read one particu.
lar newspaper, have walked a certain
number Of blocks, before he can make
his great speech, or write his brilliant
editorial. He cannot rise to great oc-
casion. He becomes machine. His
work may be regular and neat, but it is
soulless, cold, touched with no charm of
individuality Such man may serve
well but he is not fit to rule.
IT. at home, he is frequently respecta-
ble, abroad he is always insuiierable.
He is made so miserable by the disturb
ance OF his habits i'll the exigencies OF
travel, that he can enjoy neither scenery,
pictures nor people. Yet he prdes him
self on the "good habits by which lie
has blunted his sensibilities, and limited
his enjoyment of everything intended by
Providence to elevate and inspire fallen
race.
But there is a worse danger yet. This
subject has so long been misunderstood,
and that which is really vice has so Of
ten been upheld as virtue, that people
have come to regard it with actual salts
faction. This unworthy contentment IS
death to intellectual growth. The mind
is hampered in thought and expression
by mental mannerisms which it is never
taught to shake of.
In speaking of the typical haJituaL
person / have said 80 man" adyisedly.
Women are more rarely subject to this
vice. / do not put their superiority in
this matter on the ground of stronger
moral sense. do not wish to exalt my
own sex undeservedly. Women are
gifted by nature with greater flexibility;
and, doubtless, the ordinary circum-
stances of their lives offer fewer tempta-
tions toward habits. We must wait till
woman's outward life becomes as nearly
like that of man as it will soon become,
before we should boast Of her superior
moral nature. We must see whether
her freedom OF soul will stand the crucial
test of mems unnatural regular occu-
pations."
If woman would be charming, let
her shun habit like pestilence and death.
When Enobarbus said of Cleopatra
Gage cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety"
he meant that she was one of those de-
lightfully spontaneous creatures who
have no habits at all. Some days,
fancy, she was very silent, and on Others
overfiowing with talk. When Antony
marched home late in the evening he
might be perfectly sure that the Queer
would not be upset by having her dinner
at nine instead of at six and that sht
would he pleased TO sit up the rest O
the night to listen to his exploits. She
probably rose one day at noon, and OF
the next viewed the sunrise from hel
garden. -,
As I have said, one who has habits
may be q good servant, but one wh'
wishes to do more, must get rid OF them
A soldier, o mother, fronticrsman,
t physician, or any one who has to NEE
nature face to face, and work with he
forces, has nothing to do with habits
Such q one must learn to bear fatigue
heat and cold, broken sleep, irregnla
, and insufficient food, days of arduou
2 work, and days of enforced idleneSs.
Clarissa in Indianapolis Herold