Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-22
Adam.
CThe Observations Of a Philosophical
Friend OF Oursl

CThe Observations Of a Philosophical
Friend OF Ours)
1t is no doubt a very fortunate thing
for our great progenitor. as well as To-
our unregenerate selves, that he is 81
| distantly related to us and we to him
Our departures from his pious and sim
pie ways are well calculated to DISCUS
want Of education and utter ignorance o.
! the commonest conventionalisms Of so.
ciety life would make us blush for hin
in almost any company. 1t Is very vel
! that he is dead, and that he died a Ions
/ time ago. If he were alive now he would
| be sorely mortified at a great many
things, and we couldn't understand his
| habits. We would be apt to think him
an old fool. and he would know that we
were a set of lunatics; though he might
keep it all to himself.
Moreover, he never had a title-Pope,
Cardinal, Right Rev. Hon., Judge, Gene
raj, Colonel, or Corporal, or society lead
err. He was nothing but a nouvel
homme-sans culottes.
AS between Adam and his worldly pos
terity, there are a great many things to
be said on both sides. For example,
Adam was not bored to death with COM
pany, or wholly occupied or absorbed in
business He had little time to HIM
self. lie was, no doubt, very simple in
his diet as well as in his dress. So his
head was clear, his heart honest and
cheerful, and all his powers bright and
alive. The Great Creator was his COM
panion, and his occupation was to study
and admire the beautiful things of earth
and Heaven, just fresh from the hand OF
God, and in the depths Of his being, en-
joy the beginning, the springtide of the
worlds existence, his early life and early
love. For hadn't he a sweetheart that
was made for him, to fill his hearts de-
sire and all his mind, with no mantua-
maker but herself? Perhaps his soul re-
ceived and reflected the beauties and
glories Of nature like the bosom of a
clear, deep lake-just as they were And
the Almighty, looking down there, saw
His glory, as we see things I'm the bosom
of the deep pure water. So God sees the
pure in heart, and the pure in heart see
Him. Adam had no books and illustra-
lions and commentaries, but had to study
things themselves and make his own
judgments. He was In q position where
earth and Heaven, all things, in puris ma
turalibus, were his schools and school
masters He was instructed and taught
by the great masters. He drew his waters
Of life from the fountain-head. Since his
time old Homer and Shakespeare have
been thought to owe their excellences to
the fact that they were educated a good
deal after Adams fashion, and enjoyed
all his disadvantages. Unluckily, how
ever. for Adam, from that source whence
comfort seemed TO come discomfort came.
His wife made the acquaintance Of
silken, sly, insinuating jock, and we all
know too well the direful consequences.
She thought she had found out something
that her husband did not know; that wo-
man had rights among them. higher edu-
cation, and the company of bright and
progressive gentlemen and broad church
manship, and so she brought ideas and
company into the human family that
they haven't yet gotten rid OF. God made
man upright, but he has sought out many
inventions.
The descendants OF Adam are Of opin-
ion that they have made great improve
ments since his day. Some have plainly
been in the right direction; others quite
otherwise.
Adam, before the introduction OF Ewes
was very loyal man. He