The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-04-05
SPECIALISTS IN MORALS.

In the Arena for March, 1899, under
caption Efficacy of Positive Mental At
titudes," we find very thoughtful, in
structive and interesting article from the
pen of Henry Frank.
The entire article is an ethical discus
sion leading to the conclusion, as ex-
pressed in his own words, eve can make
the world entirely as we wish it. We may
be lords of our bodies, shapers of Our
souls and builders of our fates." Much
of the argument will be generally accept
ed as sound, and we believe thoughtful
reading of the article cannot fail to in
cite thought that will result inevitably in
moral and intellectual self-improvement.
In the course of his argument he says:
I'VE attain moral attitude as we build
structure. We must lay stone on stone
around the rising framework to fashion
the image of the mind. SO must we pile
thought on thought, cement resolution
to resolution till anon the Wills firm at
ttude is fixed. and Our characters APP
proach completion.
BY what manner of thought shall such
force, mere resistance sufficient? l think
not. Resistance and non-recognition are
the two key notes. Merely to resist a
wrong is not in itself sufficient to trans
form characteristic. II you gaze, how
ever fiercely, in the eye of the serpent, he
may hypnotic you by his superior charms.
But cry to Satan: Get thee behind me-
and he may the more 1uridly vivify his
portentious presence. A mad dog may be
choked, If you have the strength. But
unarmed, you would better flee his pres
ence IT you can. Treadlng with bare feet
on wet rope IN the dark, is to the mag
nation equivalent to treading on Shiny
snake. To relieve the imagination, turn
on the light II you would see different
pictures than you are wont to behold.
change the photographs in the gallery of
the soul. If you are searching for sane
men, do not enter mad house. II you
are looking for roses, do not linger in
stubble-held. If you wish to behold an
Apollo, do not gaze at Callahan. Look
at what you wish to see. If you want
virtue do not gaze on vice. If you prefer
goodness do not stare at badness One
can gaze SO long at the dark spots in the
moon as to forget its light. A false
wrinkle may dishgure the divine form of
Venus if one will insist on seeing il"
Much OF the foregoing is beautiful in
theory and no one would question in the
proper development of human character
the materiality and value of high ideals,
and good moral environments and asso-
Citations.
We fear that Mr. Frank has to some
extent fallen into the error of most spe-
clalists. The athlete often trains the vari-
Gus muscles of the body to the neglect
and often the injury of the intellectual
man. The musician could train the mt
steal taste of his apt pupil to the exclusion
of all other and often more essential ac-
complishments. So may we train and de-
velop at will any special characteristic of
mind or organ of the body abnormally,
and plainly the tendency of the age is to-
ward specialties and the specialist.
Mr.. Frank in his desire to exercise spe-
cial care over morals has overlooked the
fact that the law of comparison is the
most potent factor in mans whole educa-
ton and development. Comparison is the
basis of every right Judgment, it COM
mences in the cradle and ends only at the
grave. The first CLEAN of infant intelfi-
gence appears when the babe in the era
die forms its first imperfect judgment of
distance by comparing the appearance of
its little hands as he reaches out further
from the eye. The whole process of edu-
Il
son. He who would follow closely the
lines here laid down by Mr.. Frank,
would go through life with one eye closed
(non-recognition). In the realm of NOR
ais man would be barred from half the
worlds best literature. The great works
of Victor Hugo, like Les Miserables, and
the writings of Dickens, would be con-
signed to the waste heap, as source of
danger to the morals of the race. The
most powerful agencies in literature for
the uplifting of morals are those works
showing in strongest contrast the bad be-
side the good. Man can best appre-
ciate the sweet when he has knowledge
that there is sour Mental, moral or
physical deformity becomes doubly repel-
liant when compared with perfection. The
light is always brighter when we emerge
from the darkness It is useless to warn
the child of danger that you cannot de-
scribe or make ineligible to his mind.
Faith and imagination has never been
found satisfactory substitute for positive
knowledge and material, tangible facts.
To shut ones eyes to the miseries, the
struggles, the wrongs, the crimes, the inn
moralities of this world is closing the
book of knowledge 1t was Harriet
Beecher Stoves knowledge of the hor-
rors and immoralities of slavery that stir
red her soul and inspired Uncle Toms
Cabin Every great and important step
in human progress has been inspired by
knowledge that Mr. Frank would have