The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-11
HEREDITARY TENDENCIES.
One Phase in the Development
of Human Character.

Some insane instincts, as mat
ter of fact, do exist among us, re-
yealing their destructive ferocity
in a thousand forms Of suffering,
sin. shame. and temptation. Not
living soul has entirely escaped
some injury, hereditary or I'M
mediate, direct or indirect, from
their lordships. Yet we are IN
structed to regard them as scarcely
modifable factors of existance.
They recall to memory the fabu-
lous monsters of ancient story,
who used to ravage and destroy
whatever crossed their path, car
rving terror to- the hearts OF men,
until at length no hero went forth
to slay them.
The monsters Of today, unhap
pilv. do not permit themselves to
re slain too easily. They spit fire
as of yore; they rend and pierce
and tear, but they are no longer to
be overcome in one sharp struggle,
after the fashion Of their more
worthy ancestors. It is through
the mysterious forces ofhereditary
that the evil gathers such unholy
strength 1t seems as II nature
had some mystic storehouse where
, in she garnered secretly moment
bv moment the thousand infiu-
ences of daily life; the lurings and
commissions of circumstances; and
that these, accommodating silently
and memorable. became transmit
ed into living passions, imperlous
needs, which we are wont to call
natural impulses" and to accept
in the same resigned spirit as that
in which the Germans welcome
typhoid fever as part Of the divine
scheme.
There is something appalling IN
the knowledge that because a
mans grandfather allowed evil
habits to grow upon him, that man
is to be cursed all his life with
some awful punishment; torment
ed, perhaps, with strength OF
mere crude instinct entirely out OF
harmony with his whole character
causing him infinite struggles. un
less the worse thing happen
!. again through the existance OF
some hereditary weakness anC
he surrenders the human side o
him to the encroachments Of the
animal. Westminster ReUieW
The Home journal says: Z
vain man-one who ostentatlOusl.
plumes himself upon his abilitle
or achievements unavoldabl..
somewhat foolish man. Hi
"concious ego" is too big in his owl
ewes for a good mental balance
He is necessarily deficient IN
sense of proportion: All things
within range of his vision. ar
thrown out of their true proper
tons. until his whole field of pros
pect is distorted. He is like
turnspit dog that guages the al
fairs of the world by the unit c
his own absorbing occupation
But humility Gas at least half tn
world knows is an inevitable re
suit Of natural good sense and az
quired WISDOM Just as surely {
our accurate notions of the grei
and the small come from widel
practised observation and impa
tial reflections.
For wisdom consists chiefly
the power of seeing all things !
their just symmetry and true Il
terrelationship to each other al
of each to the whole. Its rans
of vision is not limited to tt
present. It comprehends the pas
and forecasts the future. 1t
usually an requirement seldo
an inheritance. like genius or ts
ent. On the contrary, men
talent acquire it with difficult
and men Of genius rarely posse
except perhaps occasional
when both genius and talent UNI
felicitously in an individual, w
has lived as an active partlclpa
in affairs of great moment. Bro
common sense is the best found
ton to build it apon. That
hardpan. Mere brilliant abllltl
are more like a quicksand- mt
treacherous when most trusted,