Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-26

observations OF a Philosophical Friond)
How charming is divine philosophy
Not harsh and grabbed. as duh fools sup
pose.
But musical as is Apollo's Lutte
And perpetual feast Of nectared sweets.
Where no crude surfeit reigns
Milton.
Abeunt studia In mores.
-Alegius.
Unquestionably IL IS a poor and unsat-
lsfactory thing 10 deal I'm vague generali-
ties and make large assertions on few
and passing observations Those who
give themselves much 90 that sort of
thing are presently not much regarded
and accomplish little. It is not a little
remarkable 20 hear men. who I'm practice
have been pretty much failures. discours
ing largely and learned'y about what
they have failed in They remind MS OF
vegetables that have little root and large
tops They are nothing but leaves. This
b. is that makes men impatient of moral
izing. 10 ia a.l talk with them. and 10 i-
accepted that takers arc not good
doors" So lt is that sentiment and SEM
timentalzire have passed into disrcpute
As in the other case. wise acts gave way
90 wise talk. so I'm this genuine. natural
feeling gives way 10 imaginations and
fine words and musical sentences. And
fine words butter no parsnips
SIN. both gi.tter.ng geueraiities and
sentiment arc good things. We I'm our
day feed on tho risen cream OF am the
past All that the best and wisest of all
the nations Of the world have uttered
and recorded is spread before Ms Their
wise words and observations have been
filtered through minds. have been tried
In practice. and stand before MS as laws
and seif-evident propositions; self-eyldent
in the veriiication Of undeniable facts
and realities around us.
What we call sentiments are the feel
ings. thoughts IL. piratons, affections,
longing8 OF the human heart embodied
in words; living, moving. stimulating
sentences; strange mysteries that wake
up, quicken. and foruty every heart 20
which they communicate themselves.
What a strange wonderful thing is
book " poetry that seems 60 carry the
living soul OF its author. accom-
plshing just what be would DO in life
He being dead. yet speaketh. And can
DE be dead whose souls utterances give
life? Glttering generaliues and senti-
meuts are nothing unless they arc put ln
practice-unlcss they materlalze And
yet they are good exercises for the mind
and heart. They are pleasant because.
being true. they are natural, normal, and
healthy The Psalmist was a most prac-
teal man. q hero. a great warrior,
loyal subject. patriot, and a. great king.
And yet how he did mOIaiize and senti-
mentalze. How he did shape up ideals
and pour out his soul I'm beautiful songs.
His ideal man Us a great mOraliZer His
delight is in tine law Of the Lord, and in
His law will he exercise himself day and
night. His 10th Psalm Is a long medita-
ton on the words and truths, and
statutes and laws, and commandments
OF the Almighty as he could make them
And how beautifully does be sentimental
ize about the kings daughter, about Mt
Zion, the JOY of the whole earth, &c. He
was a man of action But be ncrved and
strengthened his soul by his loyal medi-
tations and by pouring out his soul TO
God. Never were such gittering gene
ralitias az his never such splendid sem
timent. never such animating thoughts
ami utterancqs. His book is concentrated
light and life and action. Caesars COM
mentaries on a lower level and on a
worldly theme. are fun Of reflection. ac-
ton. and sentiment And the plays OF
Shakespeare are after the same order
sentiment. reflection, and observation IN
action.
A great philosopher SAYS tho highest
men are those who seem 10 have been
born when the planets Jupiter (of action
and Saturn (Of contemplation were I'm
conjunction.