The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-12

II is pretty obvious that tho same foun-
tain can not bring forth sweet waters and
bitter. And It IS almost as plain propo-
sition that the same heart cannot delight
in things that are clean. and that are
unolcan. II IS very true that the bee eX-
tracts honey from the same source from
which the spider draws poison: And the
olive and the hg tree and the bFamble
all get their nourishmcnt from the com
mon air and the common earth. The ma
ture of the insect and tho plant deter
mines the result Of its digestion. The
bee makes honey. the spider. poison, the
olive, berries. the tx tree, figs. and the
v.nc erapcs-all working up the same elc-
ments. And so It IS with US all. Accord
ing 10 our feeding so are we filed. But
here IS just the question: What is thte
nature within us that IS being Jed ami
cherished. and bearing fruit? Are We Of
the nature Of the bee. or the spider, or
the vine. or the hg tree, or the hralnblc?
What are our tastes? What do we assimi-
late? What do We love? Whittier are We
tCndirg2 To what expanding? The mys-
tically the same elements. combined. may
produce such different results. We bow
and say. otis God has made them sou
Sul we know We are free, and that VIC
can choose tho good and refuse the evil
And We know that we are responsible,
whether we shall do tho work OF the bee
or the spider, the ~ tree or the bram-
BILE Our 60 rly work i'm this respect forms
our tastes, cultiyatos our habits OF heart
and mind. and determines the charac-
ter and quality Of our lives, for good or
bad for HAPPINESS or misery-makes our
manhood.
The fixing Of the tastes for pure and
true and beautiful things, and the cher
ishlng Of the loves for what is honorable
and high. is the beginning. middle and end
of education. We relieve ourselves Of OUT
educational responsibility by assigning all
that 10 the mother and the nursery.
There. of course, is the beginning Of all
llfs And home influences determine the
loves and affections and qualities of the
soul. But all schools and colleges are
meant 10 enhghten and enlarge essen-
tial manhood. Perverted or false or We
cious ideals and worldliness there. may
promises Of home. The best natures may
bo smothered hardened. dwarfed. under
tho most elaborate and expensive meth
ods These natural tastes and affections
may DO utterly discreditel and tram
Piled under foot, entirely superseded 10y
the vain. the false and the unnatural ln
how many cases are made-up profess
eors-put-up jobs-utter strangers TO the
sober. simple. genuine ways or nature
nay habitual and persistent despIsers or
her best grsccs,
crowds whcthtor OF the learned or
the unlearned. whether Of students or
professors. are yet crowds: And most
crowds are more or less mad; their char
acteristic crazlnees. The young and ten-
der uatures are. for large part SUR
located and emothered and oDiltcrated
,,n1or their influence. And tho poor crea-
lures ara followed into their hiding places
and terrorized thereby tho fear OF their
toe,f-naster-. Are we not too much cdn-
Gated for q free people; too much DRIVEN
too much shaped by the task-masiers3
some say the hope of the world IS the
unelucatcd. The divine Master chose tho
raw material for his work. And his
worst enemies were the oycreduFatea.
50 they are I'm our day.
And vet 10 the simple soul, TO the heart
set ON things true honest, and just pure
lovely. and of good report the fields are
white to the harvest. TO those VINO
know and acknowledge the dignity OF
manhood. and their high calling' the
world is fairly ovcrspread with royaA
daintles. q feast Of fat things, Of wines
ON the lees. well-Iehncd' of literature or
natural science. Of all knowledge, of All
the wealth and riches of all the past
The requirement IS single discerning
heart. simple SOUL thankful spirit
that will take OF the cup OF salvation ana
Iii mon tho name of the Lord. The
old prophet was speaking for men OF all
tmo. Butter and honey shall he eat tAl
he know how to refuse the evil and
choose the good; ana. II thol separate che
nro.ious from the vile thou shalt DO even