Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-24
knowing Human Nature.
observations OF a philosophical friend O
Ours)

observations OF a philosophical friend OF
ours)
How to wake up the mind, fort!fy the
heart, and tougher he sinews and mus
cles for the battle and business Of life is
almost the FIRST thing that occupies man
when be finds himself the father Of a'real
boy. Blindness and ignorance and help
Iessuess are terrible TO contemplate. Light
knowledge. and power are the prime ne
cesslties. How the poor, helpless little one
shall be developed, strengthened, and
equipped and thoroughly furnished Tor
useful and happy life is the great study.
Naturally. as tho son OF man IS ca
pected 10 move among men and be one
OF them, as men ale 10 be his compan-
ions and antagonists. his friends, and his
enemies, his helps and his competitors,
Ais first business is to know them. a.
mankind are 10 be the element in which
he moves, he mus, make himself well and
iam.liarly acquainted with human nature.
How 10 20 about 10 learn human nature
10 the great consideration.
The mud BATH or immersion in the
river StyN. mat, according 10 heather
%
heather and half-heathen past-Deen ac-
cepted by many. TO relieve their OIL
spring OF the seus!tiyeness, the shrinking
nOdesty. that somehow is, Ike the down
on fruits and flowers. the almost sure at
tendant upon delicate senslDllitles and
noble natures, they send them out Into
he world at very early age. And, in
place OF matured characters, OF healthy
bodies, and great souls, there result
perverted, warped, dwarfed, dried, I'M
healthy bodies and hardened, withereu
hearts. The mud-bath education makes
The pupil familiar with human nature IN
its dregs. And whether in the experiences
Of court life and high society, or the low
est walks, wherever the world. the flesh,
and the devil have sway, human nature
is at it's worst. And the knowledge OF II
that is acquired under their auspices had
better not be known. At best men and
women OF the world are safest studied
as curious specimens. and a plain man or
woman may look on their ass smbles a
he would visit menagerie. Unto their
assembly, o mine honor, be not thou
united" IL he will be a little careful be
will find them harmless. He VIII fnd
most Of them Gagged in their own personal
vanity and ambition, olind drunk. or hud
died together. and shut up with notions
Of etiquette and conyentiouality. II is
rare thing for one Of them 10 get out -
its box. The Travels OF CULVER" are
misanthrope's study OF the world with It's
Liliputians and Brobdignags. its Lapu-
tans and Howynhyms. They landed their
author In a lunatic asylum. And the
study OF human nature, from that point
OF view, promises utter disgust or luna
cy. And yet there are parents who count
the mud-bath and knowledge OF the wick
edness Of the world-that sort OF acquaint-
ance with human nature-as a good pre-
paration for life.
When a machine, or engine, or instru-
ment is being made ready for work, its
minutest part is cleansed from every pos
sihle hincrance In the way Of dust, gum.
rust, or accretion OF every kind: its pivo,s
and points are fixed and firm, and all
It's action Is assured true and direct. No
warp. bending. or looseuess can be allow
ed. Any defect may throw the whole
thing out OF gear. Possibility OF failure is
avoided by excluding irregularity. Guards
and double guards are established. mo
such word as fail" Ii will not
oe found In that sort OF company. And
certainly for the work Of life the clearest
possible principles. as jewels In a watch,