The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-09-06
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.

of the dav has a potent influence in
shaping the habits and deeds of a peo-
pie, is a self-evident fact. We have
laws against the circulation of obscene
literature, because such literature is de-
mOraliZing to all classes of people. |
These facts cannot be gainsayed. The
current literature of the day, and more
especially the great dailies, are devoted
to accounts of dark deeds and tales of
woe that would harrow up the soul of
universal christendOm, were they not of
frequent and increasing occurrence.
The Col. Breckenridge scandal, and
others still more demoralizing, have
been served up in every daily paper of
great pretensions, in glaring headlines,
during their continuance in court and
during the past few months, many de-
moniac atrocities incident to and indie
pendent of the great strike, a catalogue
of which we will refrain from mention
ing, in all their horrible atrocities, have
been dished up in the most attractive
style of horror, to be enjoyed in detail
for you a breakfast desert. Now the
question arises. says the Dodge County
Republican, is the world made better
or worse by this daily discussion Of the
most horrible and wicked phases of life?
There is dark side to the worlds
life, and the world is made up of the in
dividual lives of the people. There is
also a bright, good, happy side to
the world. Prof. Geo. Comb, in his Con-
stitution of Man, says, "Man, seen in
his crimes, his wars and his devastations,
might be mistaken for an incarnation
OF an evil spirit; contemplated in his
schemes of charity, his discoveries in
the benefit of the race, he seems bright
intelligence from heaven" Thus either
phase of character can be increased by
culture, and the world made better or
worse according to the trend of culture,
are scientific facts. Now, the melan-
chOlly contemplation of these facts may
in some instances, warn us of evil and
incite desire to do good; but those in
stances are rare and the reverse is more
probable and common. We live in a
world of want and disease SIM disaster
and death, interspersed with sunshine,
beauty, true goodness and happiness.
Our bodies are Subject to debasing ap-
petites and decay. No person of hui
name instincts and moral perceptions
can or ought to look upon evils which
beset the pathway of humanity, with
out deep sadness and not add his might,
be it ever SO small, toward lettering
the condition Of his environment and
thus contributing even faint CLEAN
toward the bright side Of the world.
These are moral reasons why one
should not dwell constantly upon the
existing evils of the world. We grow
in virtue or vice in proportion as we
contemplate the good Or evil deeds of
others. When we daily read of the
evil deeds of the world, without con-
templating the good, the beautiful and
the true, we become morbid, depressed
and frequently insane, and weak minds
are thus prepared to emulate the news
paper garnished deeds of villainy
Such: undoubtedly, was the habitual
trend of the thought Of Prendergast
the slayer of Mayor Harrison, and
many other unfortunates whom the
world knows as despicable villains, who
with reverse habit of thought and
good instead of evil deeds to contem-
plate, might have been good members
of society.
A persons duty to humanity de-
mands that he shall not depress his