Middletown transcript., 1886-02-26

5le human mlnQ.
Il To this spirit Of research and inquiry
| we owe every Improvement, every in
vention, every forward step in the
material progress of our race. But
we said, and truly, that man is a ''Big
Interrogation Point" The remark
| will admit of qualification, paradoxi-
cal it may seem, but true all the same.
The majority of mankind are great
big Interrogations in little things and
very small Interrogations in big things.
Many are prone to inquire into
little penny dreadful matters, into
the innermost thoughts and pri-
vacies of their neighbors to acquire
| and retail with interest all the gossip
| and SANDER and rottenness Of their
community to know the "Why ?''
of all the devious ways and crooked
deings of their fellows /; to besmirch
fair virtue and true piety.with all the
sneaking, the low, the underhanded,
the vile interrogations and insinuating
"Whys 2"; and these speak more than
whole volumes Of words of their de-
spicable characters, and the depths to
which this grand quality may be
brought. That is one class Of Investi-
gators, and they are aggre ssive only in
the sense that with their methods of
investigation they would tear down
and demolish every finished or nearly
perfect structure and make it conform
to their own standard. Then these
have a companion class in another di-
vision of humanity, but this class
stands on much higher plane, and
these may simply be termed Interro-
gators. The first are the frey, the
vicious, the untamed and untamable
zebras, striped all over with their own
conceit and fault finding disposition. |
They are known of all men, and get |
proper credit for the exact dispo-
sition they possess and nothing |
more. Their "Whys?' and investiga-
lions are for no good purpose and de-
struction and chaos their second nature.
But the interrogation, if not usually
given credit for more fire and anima-
lion, and even if he is frequently spoken
Of in connection with that quadru-
ped who sports long ears and peculi-
'rly sonorous voice, is at least respect
ID for his staying qualities; and the sim
,erity of his " Why ?" is not for mo-
nent doubted. It is his work to put
N the brakes, to hold in check the
Trey and vicious untamed, and he may
lso be of benefit in restraining the
nettlesome steed Of true progressive
Investigation and research, which
bus steadied shall bear the world
n to greater and better things.
Who has words to express the admi-
alton of mankind for the men who
ave successfully investigated the
reat Why's ?" of life, and who have
'restled with and conquered its vex-
tious problems.
1t would, no doubt, be profitable for
u of us to ask in which of these three ,
ategories we stand, and the probable in /
uence upon the developement Of our |
tate or community our position may I
ave. 1t does not require much re-
arch to find out our position, nor
bed we long question in what cate @
Dry we ought to place ourselves. Let i
all go about with useful intelligent +
lquiries upon our lips, always ,
pom the side Of advancement r
Id progress, ever ready to ac- 7
'pt new things, proved good, and not !
raid to discard the old, no matter /
w old or how cherished, when COM
on sense and reason so dictate. 9
The " Why's ?" of life are many and r
solution of any Of them profitable,
% field is unlimited and open to all in \
'nest search for information. Let us t
| put on our thinking caps and en- b
aver to add something to the worlds
ock of knowledge so that when we 90 Il
nee the survivors will not ask sWhy" d
as he here 9'' In