The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-14
,oncurs in their movements rather than

conveni.nccs in arrangements of a per-
sonal nature like an easy chair or a
good fire. which do their part IN dis
polling cold and fatigue. though nature
provides both means or rest and AMI
NAL heat without them. The true gen
tleman. in like manner. carefully
avoids whatever may cause jar or Jolt
intghe minds of those with whom he IS
cast-all clashing of opinion or co.,
liaion of feeling, all restraint. or sus-
picion. or gloom. or resentment ms
great concern being TO make every one
at their ease and at home. lie has MS
eyes on all his company; be Is tender
towards the bashful, gentle towards
the distant, and merciiEl towards the
absurd.
He can recollcct to whom he is speak
| ing: lac guards against unseasonaOie
illusions, or topics which may irritate :;
/ he is seldom prominent IN conversation
and never wearisome. He makes ilght
| OF favOrs when he does them. and seems
TO be receiving when he Is conforming
He never speaks of himself except
when compelled. never defends nm
self by mere retort, he has no ears for
Islander or gossip, is scrupulous IN I'M
putting motives TO those who interfere
with him, and interprets everything Tor
the best. He is never mean or little ia
his disputes. never takes unfair adVan-
tage. never mistakes personalities or
sharp sayings for argument, or insluu-
ates evil which he dare not say out.
From a long sighted prudence he OBJ
serves the maxim of the ancient sage,
that we should ever conduct Ourselves
towards our enemy as if he were one
day to be our friend.
He has too much good sense 10 be
afronted ut insults; he IS too well en-
ployed to remember injuries and too IN
dolent to bear malice. lie is patient.
forbearing, and resigned on philosophi-
cal principles: he submits TO pain be-
cause it is inevitable, 10 bereavement
because it ilreparable, and 10 death be-
cause il is his destiny. II he engages IN
controversy Of any kind, his disciplined
intellect preserves him from the blum
derirg diecourtesy Of better, perhaps.
but less educated minds, who. like
blunt weapons. tear and hack inctead
Of cutting clean. no makes the point
in argument. waste their strength on
trifIes. miscOnceive their adversary,
and leave the question more involved
than they find it. He may be right or
wrong in his opinion. bat he IS too
clear headed TO be unjust; he IS as sim
ple as he is fOrcible. and as brief as hc
is decisive.
Nowhere shall W. find greatercandor.
consideration. indulgence; he throws
4 IA a, Il q J.
he accounts for their mistakes. He
knows the weakness Of human reason
as well as its strength IT'S province and
its limits. II he be an uubellever, be
will be too profound and large-mindtd
to ridicule religion or to act against 1t
he is too wise to be a dogmatirt OF
fanatic in HE indelity. He respects
piety and devotion: he even supports
institutions as venerable, beautiful, OF
useful. TO which he does not assent; he
honors the ministers of religion, and II
contents him 20 decline its mysteries
without assailing or denOuncing them.
He is a friend of religious toleration,
and that not only because mis- philosophy
has taught him TO look on all forms of
faith with an impartial eye, but also
from the genileness and cHeminacv of
feeling. which is the attendant on civil !
cation.
Not that be may not hold "a religion |
too. i'm bis own way. even when he is |
nOta Christian. I'm that case his rell |
giOn is one of Imagination and sent- !
ment. 1t is the embodiment Of those |
ideas Of the sublime. majestic, and |
beautiful, without which there can be !
no large philosophy. Sometimes be
Acknowledges the being Of God, some
times he invests an unknown principle, !
or qualities with the attributes of per |
fiction. And tins deduction OF his rta- |
son or creation Of his fancy he makes !
the occasion Of such excellent thoughts |
and the starting point Of so varied and
systematic a teaching that he even seems
ike a disciple of Christianity itself. |
From the very accuracy and steadlness
Of his logical powers he is able TO sac
what sentiments are consistent IN those
" no hold any religious doctrine at all |
and he appears 10 others to feel ami 10
hold a whole circle of theological
truths. which exist IN his mind not
otherwise than az a number OF deduc-
tons.
Such are some of the lineament- Of
the ethical character which the
cultivated intellect will form. apart
from the religious principle. They are
seen within the pale of the Church aud
without 1t, in holy men and in prc!il-
gate; they form she beau ideal of the
world; they partly assist and partly
distort the development Of the Catholic.
They may subserve the education Of IA
St. Francis de Sales or a Cardinal Pole:
they may be the limits Of conlempla
ton Of a Shaftesbury or Glbbon.
Basil and Julian were fellow students
at the schools of Athens: and one be
came the saint and doctor Of the Church.
the other her soothing and RELENTLESS
foe.