Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-11-13
OBSERVATIONS OF A RETIRED
VETER AN

All human weaknesses are interesting
studies to me, but none more than the SEN
sitiveness Of people over what they call,
for want of better name, likes and dis
likes. I have often seen excellent and
agreeable people, whose goodness WAS of that
positive character that always commands
respect, lamenting that this person Oh that
did not 'ike" them. Their self esteem
was hurt, and they seemed to imagine that
they must have some hitherto undiscovered
fault or lack in their character which the
party of the second part, who didn't like
them, could see and they couldn't. Now
from the point of view of a Philosopher
who has gone to the root of this matter, all
this Importance attached to the likes OF
dislikes OF our neighbour is because we do
not know the emotions of the human mind
better. Our mental appetites are pretty
much like our phys ical appetites. There are
some men who do not like beef steak. Shall
we say that that is the fault of the steak :?
Here is another who cannot abide fish, OF
this dish or that. Shall we attempt to JUS
tify this man taste at the expense of the
fish? No? Did you say no; for if you did
you re in a frame of mind for me to teach you
my theory, the truth of which you will prove
every day that you live and take the trou-
ble to observe it. There are most estimable
people in the world who simply cannot like
each other no matter how much they try.
Observe me as | unfold this little piece of
Whita hid n
more white ? And the little powder
it contains, did you ever see a powder
winter, purer and more irreproachabIe-
not the shadow of spech about it :?
And now this other little paper
of ceru'ean luel Is not the color limo
cent and heavenly, And its contents; was
there ever Writer, purer, more innocuous
looking powder. No? Then watch me
closely fl [ IN about to show you the
cause Of the dislikes oil nine-tenths OF your
fellow creaturs. / turn them both into a
glass of water, Did you ever see more
commotion! Foamng, splitting, writhing
with each other in the glass! You exclaim
'sSeidltz." You are right, and that is the
secret OF nearly all the trouble that occurs
in this world All the World is divided into
White Paper people and Blue Paper people,
and it is when they mingle in the customs
of society that the trouble commences. |
dare say il [ could get that White Paper
powder out of the glass again, it would tell
me that 1t never saw such person as the
Blue Paper; that he has the most contrary
and unloveahle disposition; that lie is al
acays making mischief, and have no doubt
that the White Paper would even go furtll-
Ell than that and give dark hints about
things in the character of the Blue Paper
that are even worse than mere mischief
making. Would the Blue Paper talk
differently if ! could get 1t back? Not at
all; it would have the same story to tell as
its antagonist, only dare say it would be
vociferous in assuring me that il the little
difficulty which has occurred in the glass
the White Paper WAS wholly the aggressor,
and the whole difficulty was without the
least proyocation on its part. For you see
that is weakness that Men and Women
and Blue Paper and White Paper all have
all Of us want to prove that it was the
other fellow who began it.
Our worst troubles are. caused by the
most estimable White Papers and the most
estimable Blue Papers getting together-for
| have always noticed that the more esti-
mable the parties are, the more vicious
and foamlng tho quarrel is. DO you know
that as you grow older and have more ex-
perience in the world, a feeling akin to pity
will take possession of you when you see
these people getting together. / have
watched with great eonoern the progress
of White Paper young girl and Blue
Paper young fellow towards marriage. All is
beyond the cooling, and the rustling of wings.
What can do? Would the pretty White