The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-10
BlemisheS But Emphasize Ma
lures Projections.
a YouNe's BAY REVERE
Rudely Terminated by the Green
Piles of a Wharf Teaching as a
Safeguard Against Wealth.

of things that nothing should be adsolute-
ly perfect" said the teacher while yet
but few had arrived at the last meeting
of the Junto Take for instance Beauty.
How much better 1t is for us that there
Is not perfect beauty in the world--that
wherever we are or whatever may be our
surroundings there must be some irnper-
fection that detracts from the effect OF
the beautiful and leaves us with a ca
pacity and desire for the contemplation
of something still more pleasing to the
senses. can think of nothing more
unfortunate to man than to be sur
rounded with perfect beauty-if that were
possible. Familiarity would soon breed
contempt, and what at first gave pleasure
would soon become loathsome and moth |
ing less than a change of environment
would relieve the monotony, but as 1t is |
we behold both the beauty and imperfec- |
tion of everything and the very percep- |
tion Of the slightest blemish Increases our
enjoyment of the beautiful"
II wouldn't call the lmperfection in all |
nature provision in the creation of
things, for If we accept the common idea
all things were created perfect. Accord
ing to the story in Genesis our first ances-
tors lived in the midst of perfect beauty,
said the minister.
YES and they were soon Disconnected"
But" interposed the laboring man who
was usually not very forward in talking.
Perhaps we don't all accept the story of
Genesis, though l think / have no special
objection to II as a whole. There are
some parts of the story that are rather
difficult to believe-for instance the rib
story. I've thought for hours at time
on this subject of perfect creation, and
the nearest l can get to a satisfactory
conclusion is this: Either the universe
was created imperfect. or If 1t was cre-
ated perfect 1t is perfect still. When God
finished his work he pronounced it good,
and If the whole universe was good,
can not conceive how there ever could
have been any evil-then or at any other
time. It seems to me that Bible teachers
are brought to this extremity-they must
pronounce as erroneous the statement
that all was good, or they must admit
that all is good now"
"Well, let that question of the eternal
goodness of things go for the present. Let
us suppose that things are imperfect as
they seem to be what is the practical ap-
pjcation of this theory that II Is best
for us that there is more or less lacking
in all things. l want something practical
out of everything What Is your idea
you are so anxious to promulgate, pro-
fessor?"
There is no end to the practical side
IF its application. We can see the bene,
ats all through life. Take for instance
TWO small children-one born to a life Of
poverty the other to a life Of luxury. One
8 reared in a humble home where adorn-
nent is simple or unknown, and where !
perhaps none OF the five senses ever per- :
,eiye the beautiful, while the other grows
I'D in the midst of all that can give pleas ,
ide to the senses-sight hearing, tasting, a
,melling, feeling You know what will !
,e the difference just as well as / do. !
You know which child has the better
prospect of genuine enjoyment In this [
world. 1t is a blessing to the world that a
III children can not be reared in homes oil n
vealth-homes where every room is as 1
Elegantly furnished as is possible to the q
4rt--where the best music Is to be heard v
Without the asking-where all the delica- 8
les of the season are partaken Of daily
where richest perfumes fill the air-ano \
vhere every toy or other pleasure to the h
ense of touch is supplied. We all know |
What kind of men and women come from v
uch homes. r
But this Is only in the beginning. Boys
nd girls are no more easily spoiled than
len and women. Place a man or woman
A the midst OF luxury with nothing TO
O but seek amusement and the result
I'LL be just as disastrous as though a
hild had been placed there"
"You wouldn't object to having the ex'
erlment tried on you. would your"
II suppose not. All men think they .
ould not be spoiled by wealth being :
iven them, which they did not earn. bun
notice that they are ruined never-the- Q
.ss-and the more ! see OF men the more =
observe that all men are pretty much n
like. / don't believe wealth could hurt Q
10, yet It probably would just as It does !
theirs. / teach school more as a safe {
uard against being demorallzed by O
'ealth, than for any other reason" e
"a very commendable object. indeed; r
ou are somewhat different from most
rhool teachers, for / have heard many
sachers say they follow the occupation
ecause they love the work" c
They probably told the truth 10 some /
xtent, for I've noticed that those who n
each because they love the work usually i
pillow the occupation. while those who {
zach for money are usually leading the [
But this has nothing to do with the p
eauty question: how did you happen 10 a
e thinking along such lines, professor"
THE thoughts came TO me several days
go. I had been over to Warrenton and q
'as coming back across the bay on the r,
teamer In the Afternoon, ] have crossed
he bay many times this fall and winter, :
nd used TO cross II often several years
go, but never before enjoyed the view
I Saddle Mou5tain as l did that day
hen the clear atmosphere and bright
unlight made almost a perfect picture
I the forest clad hills with the mountain
sing In stately grandeur behind them.
II almost went into ecgtacies Of delight
first. and then settled down 70 revffIe
ich as a poet Is supposed TO experience
hen he II about 10 write spring poetFy
was having a most deiia,btfui dram
Ten the whistle blew Tor As.oria and we
ided up 10 the dock which was support
on tall piles covered with green slime
at made anything but q pleasant pict-l