The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-13
WITH THE EYES OPEN.
Et il Well to Make Use Of the Power OF
.Observation-

| Fs IL Well to Make Use of the Power Of
| .Observation-
eff ONLY we had curtains to the
| prifices of the ears, as well as lids to
the eyes, that we might catch little
nap, get a little repose while going
| down town on the street cars"
Seeing this wish expressed by .
| writer a few days since. il strikes me
forcibly that such longings point to
! discomfort with the wondrous plan Of
our Creator, who in infinite wisdom
| edapted our senses Ia our needs and
happiness-put in the delicate and in
| tricate mechanism of the eye and ear
SO that it would contribute to the ut
most to the pleasures and delights OF
| life
What improvement could be made In
the human form divine" when in per
fiction? Yet seldom. indeed, do we
find this perfection. Few have even
the five senses without defect, and SO
to general physical condition; some
known or unknown disease is always
present to mar the beauty of the origi'
nal plan-the perfect whole.
Exceedingly rare is it to find phys
ical condition without blemish, even
aside from the five senses. Many are
partially deaf, and unaware of it; many
suffer from perverted vision and have
yet to find it out Would those with
impaired hearing wish for curtains to
their ears? Rather would they rejoice
to hear mosquito sing. Imperfection
of any sense leads to the fullest appre-
citation Of that sense. 2
AS to the eyes it seems a wise plan
to go through the world with them
open. 1t seems the proper place to
"catch a nap" and get "repose" in the
seclusion of ones own homE instead Of
in the street cars Not specially at
! tractive vision is that of sleeping
lady" in transitu, though it may make
very pretty picture on the walls of
an art exhibition. And the sleeper
loses such a bewildering study of hu.
mainly, for nowhere is 1t portrayed in
wider variety and scope than in street
cars. Many years residence in the
great metropolis has not decreased the
pleasure and interest in the sights and
scenes in the street cars, even on
trip down town. The sstudy Of our
fellow men and women appears an I'M
ending volume. and there is a way to
take in all things if the eyes are
only open. The quaint fashions and
curios ideas that express themselves in
all directions are amusing, ludicrous
or impressive, as the case may be.
We note the varied features they
plainly bespealg. We can read the
nervous temper and the one too LAM
guild to move, the cross nature and the
pleasant. the happy and the miserable,
the hopeful and the despairing soul
the tale is told in the face and manner.
The INDECENT and the energetic, the
sad and the glad sit side by side in the
street car. The good and the bad. as
far as can be judged from outward
show, all are plainly before us, If we
but have an eye open. Often the words,
too, we unavoidably bear open to our
minds a volume, a very history, if we
are given to reflection.
As well as character in faces, the
variety of ears, too, is a study; the
way they are placed upon the head,
low or high, said TO denote the decree
of intellectually; large or small ears,
said to indicate generosity or stingi-
ness. This old-time idea does not
hold good, however, for we all know
people with the daintiest little pearl
round ears" whose hands and hearts
and pockets are ever open; and vice
versa-people with big ears, generous
only to themselves.
If one notices footgear and the way
the hands are cared for one can Judge
much of the wearer. fit be woman
with tidy hands and feet. she will be
quite sure to be careful in small met
tiers, and a good housewife. Gloves
that tell of negligence are never part
of neat personnel, and one who Is
fastidious in the minor points of dress
will not neglect the rest. The differ
ent ways of beguiling the time on the
street cars, on the way to pleasure
or business. give some idea of the opin-
ions as well as the character of fellow
travellers We look at the different
newspapers being read and at onee
feel sure of each mans politics.
All these studies are as good as a |
play at the theater, sometimes comic, |
often pathetic, now and then taking |
OF dramatic turn Pity is often stirred
by the sad sights, or admiration won |
by acts of delicate thoughtfulness.
The unfortunate ones who often ,lrop |
into the picture make US feel that trou-
bic as well as "a touch of nature makes |
the whole world kim"
"An the worlds a stage.
And all The men and women merely Players
One misses so much of interest. enter
tainment and pleasure, even in the
street car, who fails to go through the
world with his eyes open.
Armstrong, in Detroit Free Press