The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-24
The ideal MAN.
A Composite That Turns Out a Carl
cature After All.

We were talking about ideals the other
evening. She said she had one. but she
wouldn't tell what II was. didn't have
any and could only ask how 1t was
formed. She replied that must unite all
the admirable qualities in my acquaint-
ances and give them TO one mythical per-
eonage who should be my ideal. So i am
going to See il can find any admirable
qualities in those persons know. III do
I'll unite them and sec IL my ideal comes
out anything like such a one as
j should suppose hers TO be. / might
have an ideal to pattern after IL she had
only described hers, but she didn't and i
must form 1t myself.
In thinking OF my acquaintances, the
first one that comes to mind is the con-
cuctor who takes my fare every morning,
for in going to the office / invariably
strike his car. II lind admirable quail
ties in street car conductor, they will
be such as should always be remembered.
IL is not that 1 am speaking dis
paragingly OF the conductors, but that
believe them a set OF men so surrounded
by trials and tribulations that 1t would
not be a wonder II they all became as pc
cnliar as the one or two you will once in
while find. Well, the particular thing l
though once entitled to sit in the British
House OF Lords and afterwards deprived
of that right through some legal knot
which is very difficult TO unite, and still
later put through course of mis-
fortunes which would make cynics
of most men, he daily runs his car and
goes about his work with the greatest
cheerfulness. Therefore, i set down
chcerfulness as the first quality of my
ideal.
Next, think OF man met one night
last winter at banquet. The waiter
filed his glass with champagne, but he
did not drink. BY and by we got to talk
ing. "You notice haven't touched that
champagne? pll tell you why. Some time
ago i drank great deal, and before
i knew it was in fair way to ruin. /
resolved not TO touch another drop and i
have kept my resolution. / always allow
the waiter TO fill my glass and 1t Is great
temptation TO drink the stuff, but / hrve
will enough to let il alone" In this man
find two more estimable things for my
ideal, sobriety and firmness of purpose.
Again, there is among my friends an
elderly maiden lady. 1t is only negatively
that through her / can find another
characteristic for my ideal. She is closer
than the bark ona tree. An ideal wouldn't
be parsimonious. The soul OF generosity |
is what my ideal must be.
know man who is worth his millions. |
He is a constant giver TO charitable and |
educational institutions. His mail is
flooded with begging letters, some of |
them threatening loss OF life IL the de-
mands made are not complied with. He
possesses phjlanthropic spirit which my
ideal must have, too.
Another of my acquaintance is quite
bookworm. He is never seen without his
book. He reads, walking or riding, very
occasionally closing his book and rubbing
it with his hand caressingly as though he
We're absorbing by induction the con-
tents. My ideal must be fond OF books
and also student.
Among my enemies can find no virtues,
and so suppose / don't differ from most
people. One lis too conceited, another is
too shallow, third is a blockhead.
might continue to find good qualities
in other among my friends, but don't
want to burden my ideal down with too
many virtues. Let's see what have put
down already. find that my ideal must
be cheerful, sober, endowed with finn
ness OF purpose, generous and philan-
Lhopic, fond of books and studious.
When all these qualities are limited into
Dne person there arises before me the
vision OF an elderly man garbed as the
,aricaturists would dress philanthropist
ioing his deeds of benevolence. can see
him walking along the street reading a
book as venerable as himself, and now,
stopping, put his book down and exercise
ais generous spirit in behalf OF some
pleading beggar, doing the deed more
'heerfully than though he were the one
'eceiving the gift. 1 can see that he pos
csses all the qualities which would have
a my ideal, but my ideal has turned outa
,aricature.
! am still without an ideal.