Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-05

on eacn SIDE. vi q eight windows,
seven were set with glass OF diverse
tints and one was unlimited. The effect
was very curious. Though the garden
around the tower was 10 the hight Of
summer bloom, there we're one or two
windows that gave it the appearance
Of mid winter. Not even the vivid
red of the geraniums could pierce
through the leadening tint and glad
den the eye. The day without was
one of rarest loneliness, but these
windows draped the sky with gloom
and wrapped the earth as 10 the mantle
Of death.
Prisoned, as il in such a tower, do
We all live and our moods are the win
dows through which we look out upon
life. Sometimes we have visions
through uutinted media, and see
things in the white light of abso
lutte truth, There are minds so con
stituted that they see thus most Of the
time, but such minds are rare.
There are very few but are conscious
not only Of changes in the angle OF
their visions at different times,
but OF a change in the quality Of the
light which makes vision possible;
and 50, though some Of US have greal
faith in first impressions" we are
slow in committing ourselves to any
important movement or measure until
we have looked at it on all sides and in
the light Of our varying moods. 'Sleep
is a good adviser" said the great Ma
poleon, and it is a great changer oil
moods as we'll as of angles OF vision
Moods are as innumerable and as
various as the 'ints made from tht
three primary col0is, with white and
black added. They are as various as
temperaments, and hereditary and
acquired tendencies, aud as iAnumer.
able as the elements that compose
character. Some people are so con
stituted that they 60 through ell
moods in turn and zone never know
where to find them" 0thera hav,
prevailing moods and can be reckOned
on with considerable certainty
Others have such c0atrol Of
heir moods that they can be reckOneG
on with absolute certainty, and there
are some SO simple and homogeneous
10 the elements Of their composition
that they seem to have no places, bu
wear an equal tint at all times and
under ell circumstances. They art
gems with one OF two facets only,so to
speak, while the victims of thousand
varying moods throw off reflected rays
from as many facets.
Moods multiply cur senses inde6
nitely and enable Gs TO touch men and
nature in innumerable ways that
would otherwise be impossible. They
multiply our sympathies and open to
US the comprehension of possibilities
that could not otherwise be at all
perceived. He who has been in an
angry mood has an insight into crimi
nal life that he could have gained 10
no other way, The petition in the
Lords Prayer, Forgive us our debts
as We forgive our Debtors" touches the
universal heart and in it mercy and
peace kiss each other.
Polite society is organized on the
presumption that people will control
their moods sufficiently to obey the
conventional rules agreed on for the
guidance ofthe social body. 1t is not
polite to show anger or resentment or
scorn or any ofthe evil passions. Ones
manner, like his attire, must be con.
formed to the mode" and the more
elegant influence of the wearer. Polite
society is, therefore, in many respects
a beautiful mockery in which most
men and women aim to seem ghat
they would be, rather than to be what
they would seem. 1t has its uses and
its limitations. 1t requires self control
OF its yotaries, measured courtesy
toward others and an apparent respect
Of their rights aad feelings, irrespect.
i've OF moods. This is as it should be,
but the reactions from the require.
ments of polite society, just and neces.
sary as they are, sometimes work great
MiBbCnCNutn1 III nOmeb.
You shall see an invidual all smiles
and sunshine when in the reception OF
coucertroom who, as soon as tie glare
OF publicity is exchanged for the TEN
pered light Of home becomes i'll tenn
pered. sharp and utterly d~isagreeable
Moods that are restrained in the pres.
ence Of strangers because their indul,
gence would be fatal to social reputa.
ton are played off With relentless
cruelty on d~efenseless children and
helpless interiors, and what is worst
OF all, without compuuction or cen.
seriousness Of outrageous action. Some
people act as though they thought
home to be a place where they had
full license TO act out all their
worst moods aud lenses. and
open all the salty valves Of
passion, SO that they may b.
able to contain themselves wher
they go out from home. This is ,
dissertation Of the very holy Of holes
a PROCLAMATION Of the citadel of life. Ii
there is any place where unhapp,
moods, evil passions, evil tendencies
should be brought under law and guild
anee that place is home, the fountain
and center Of lie, the cradle Of all tha
10 sweetest, purest, noblest and mos
vital to the interests Of the race, Be
cause the sky is draped with a pail !,
our eyes we need not insist that every
body should look through our windoy
at IT; because a fit of indigestion
sets us az odds with all the yorl,
we need not throw pepper iato every
body else's eyes and set them at odd
With the whole frame Of things
because a mood Of religious feryo,
sweeps us away, VIC need not Therefore
anathematize all who do not ioiI
US in 1t Us infdels and ~reprobates
because we weep at the grave o
buried love we need not try TO hush
the voice Of merriment in all Other
hearts.
The perfect control and restraint O
ones moods can come only through AT
approximately perfect knowledge O
ones self. Hone is aware that he Ia,
r IN his make up granite element oI
the old Puritan character, he vii
know how to allow for moods of in.
tolerance that will sometimes sweer
over him; il he knows that he inberits
from some ancestor a violent mood Of
a tendency TO melancholy, he viii
guard against these besetments and a.
Of all the rest. Thus working witt
me best in ourselves and com.