The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-02-17
The Isane OF Habit.

Habits in little things exercise o petty
tyranny which Is most degrading. A man
cannot do anything without observing q
lot of preliminary forms he must have
slept just 30 many hours, have risen at u
regular tine, have breakfasted on beat
steak and coffee, have read one particu-
lar newspaper, have walked 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 a machine. His
work may be regular and neat, but it is
soulless, cold, touched with no charm OF
individuality. Such man may serve
well, bat he is not fit to rule.
Ii, at home, he is frequently respecta-
BILE, abroad he is always insufferable.
He is made so miserable by the disturb
ance of his habits in the exigencies of
travel, that he can enjoy neither scenery,
pictures nor people. Yet he prides him
self on the "good habits" by which he
has blunted his sensibilities, and limited
his enjoyment of everything intended by
Providence to elevate and inspire fallen
race.
But there is 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 habitudl
person l have said "a man" advisedly.
Women are more rarely subject to this
vice. l 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 aexibility;
and, doubtless, the ordinary circum-
stances of their lives offer fewer tempta-
lions toward habits. We must wait till
woman's outward life becomes as nearly
like that of q 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
cage 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 Mt all. Some days, L
fancy, she was very silent, and on others
overlooking with talk. When Antony
marched home late in the evening he
might be perfectly sure that the Queen
would not he upset by having her dmner
ut nine instead of Mt six and that she
would be pleased 10 sit up the rest of
the night to listen to his exploits. She
probably rose one day at noon, and on
the next viewed the sunrise from her
garden.
As I have said, one who has habits,
may be a good servant, but one who
wishes to do more, must get rid of them.
A soldier, q mother, n frontiersman, a
physician, or any one who has to meet
nature face to face, and work with her
forces, has nothing to do with habits.
Such one must learn to bear fatigue,
heat and cold, broken sleep, irregular
and insufficient food, days of arduous
work, and days of enforced idleness.-
ClarisSa in In6i0ndDoLis Herald