New-York tribune., 1901-03-03

US, on the other hand, have friends whom we
hhsht, IN case OF necessity, forgive for handing
US lump OF sugar IN their fingers; while strong
aiiecllOn again between those persons who ara
parties TO IL suspends within certain limits the
operation or the feeling altogether, even in
NertS lts character. But when all allowance has
been made for exceptions such as these the
faet remains that the instinct and the very idea
or cleanliness point to and are in great measure
the expression of a rooted antipathy i'm the
braln and nerves of the individual to the physi-
cai personality of the rest of his own Species
Inc sense OF cleanliness is. We have said a
coihpoSlte one; but this curious antipathy forms
one of its strongest elements. From il this sense
ot flNes those Snecial characteristics. in virtue
OF which violation eXCites not only disaDproi,a-
non, bit disgust From 4 wine glass whose rim
had a slight smear of tar on it, we drink under
pressure of circumstances. with resignation If
not with pleasure; but from wine glass whose
RIM Was Smeared 10y the lips of oiir fellow crea-
lures we SHOULD, unless dying of thirst shrink
as from a strong emetic. If man in the
htbN ol dropping little portions of sand the
plates from which he eX Xpected his guests 70 eat
ms guests would call him SoIenlN. and brush
away the sand with :heir napkins. But if in
stead of dropping sand on the plates il was his
habit 10 breathe upon them. mis- guests would
regard hlm as a monster and consider the
plates as poisoned
What can ne the origin OF this strongly marked
this almost passionate feeling" The detesta-
ton az ciTt as a protest AGAINST conditions that
are hihrihy - intelils!t II Is int lliEihle also
as a prcteNt against what is uusishtly. urdi.s-
mined. inconsistent with order aud hcauty. Thr
elevation of personal cleanliness To the rank If
moral beauty has been explained with some
illnsiollii:'. as an cA.resSiGn % Ihe modern
action against the unreasonable asceIIcisu
which was once regarded virtue, and which
pron'pted the mec;;evai saint u Iooh on c;rt as'
condition Of Sanctity. But are not aware
that any explanation has been attempted OF the
instinct that prompts men TO identify the most
repulslNe forms OF dirt with any trace left
external objects 10y the physical contact Of either
human beings PessimiSlS may say that this in
Veterate and widely extended instinct disproVes
tie reality Of that brotheriy love and sympathy
which forms. according "a the apostles of the
modern religion of humanity, natural bond of
union between all members of the human race.
and IL destined to express itself ultimately H.
some democratic millennium. PesSimiSts may
say that this instinct proves that. though mu-
tual henev"lence among men is doubtless SEN
tliit nj " illGh las SOME eject human affairs.
the sentiment of mutual antipathy is noy only
more universal. hut is, the whole. incom-
rarahly NOR" EeGuin" ana intense.
For the origin of the instinct in question We
d not pretend to account: hut we can AT all
events suggest plausible answer to the pes
SinlSt II a man rfsents. as a clean man Ger
tany would do. being asked to drink uut of q
glass which has Just been used 10y another or To
eat with a fork which has just been in anothcr's
mouth, az 10 use hanGks rChief borrowed from
another who has had cutd. his resentment need
not prove that MS anilpathy to The personality
OF the other implies any an'iYathy of an anti
social kind, fer # a man Should discern that his
companion Was i'ss particular than himself
the latter should show himself willing 10 eat
with the unWaShci for-> which a moment ago
had been i'm the mouth 90 the former any feel
ing of aniipathy would on that account be rem
drTcg Infinitely more acute than if The
panion W,re TO grow green with nausea ~ the
Thought Of touching the forks handle. which
had been IN c"nta-t with the others hand.
mutual antipathN. tn refore. can hardly divide
men if each G"SI i~os the ether in proportion as
he iinds il absent ia him and thinks him a d.
cent man in proportion he finds il present.
This reflection. ii l. true. is no answer To th..
answer L" in our curiosity Il may IT lea Z
be :: consolation to Us in our doubts.