The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-28
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER D, 1890.
FALLING IN LOVE.

Our youthful friends will, probably
not quarrel with us for proPounding
that the highest business Of school and col
Iegc course. nay, Of all education, is to make
and teach young people TO fall in love. We
are going 10 fall in loye-all Of us. That Is
certain. And If we don't tx our affections
on worthy objects. If nothing better oilers,
we are a. likely as not 10 fall in love with
some fool. And then--the rest is under
stood. Our affections are like the tendrills
of q vine. They are part of us. They are
given us to live by and 10 climb by. And
we can't keep them from fastening them
selves, and il they don't help US upward
they III fasten us on 10 weeds and common
things; things rank and gross in nature.
and make il next TO impossible TO afhne TO
this highest and best
30. then, we say that the first study Of
true education is falling in love-to give to
the young people ideals worthy of their love
and almost worship-at least Of their aDsO-
lutte devotion and whole-souled enthusiasm.
The common way is very different from
this. The common idea is 10 make for
tune and a name. Personal ambition, the
exaltation Of self, the pursuing Of every
thing from selfish motive, and for the sake
of fame and place, makes pure and unsel;ish
love impossible. Once in love with our
selves we are our own ideals. The ant, by
his own measure, is seven spans long. And
so a high authority says They comparing
themselves with themselves are not wise.
All the world knows that the men or wO-
men who worship themselves are the most
miserable and absurdest Of spectacles. And
their very love of adulation makes them the
easy prey Of any knave that will fatter
them. The fool has no delight in under
standing, but that his heart may discover
itself
a true education seeks 10 tamiliarize its
Votaries with the highest possible ideals in
everything: the highest and largest possi-
bilities of knowledge and virtue and wisdom;
and the beauty and glory and excellence of
them. II aims by the splendor Of the light
Of truth to humble the individual and Kill
our selfishness, to dispel the darkness Of
ignorance and vice: that truth and purity
may altogether prevail-be to them all in
all. But to worship an ideal is not
enough. 1t is real active,
practical love Of every manifestation or
form of high manhood and womanhood,
realized, materialized, familiarized by habi-
tual sacrifices and self-denial, and tolls for
their sake that imparts a ready and dis
eliminating judgment Of character and
worth and value. The hypocrite Is easily
deceived. Practice gives its own language,
it's own eyes and light, and judgment and
aiiirmities. Selfshness forever blears the
eyes and peryerts the heart. The wisdom
of falling in love is its inspiration; that in
thought, word and deed we are loyal to our
ideal; that we instinctively conform to the
object OF life's devotion, lost in its grace
and excellence in the true spirit of chiyalry
Aid 50 it is that the beauty and glory Of
devotion to anything honorable, chiefly 10
what God has made the consummation of
our being in married lite, Will be manifested
in ever-develOping and multiplying joys and
increasing light, in the delights of growing
and expanding character and knowledge in
home affections and home products, bios
SONS Of eternity and immortality.
Every branch of human study, every vista
of knowledge, partakes Of the flavor of all
this. And the teacher or professor who in
spires no unseltsh love, Ii enthusiasm in
its knowledge as it manifests itself to him.
is below the dignity Of his office. He who
can kindle love or admiration for the object
of his devotion can hardly be taken as much
enamored.