The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-05-23

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it as misplaced, he began at once to
discourse to her in a soothing man
ner as they proceeded.
"There are few things" he re-
marked, ''more disconcerting than
the moral influence of a fog upon the
nerves. We are surrounded even now
by numerous people in various stages
of agitation. They afford a strik-
ing exemplifcation of the helpless
ness of human beings in the face of
any sudden dislocation of normal
natural conditions. Consider if hui
mainly were destined to exist always
in such fog! How would it affect
the trend of human progress?"
A tall figure bumped into the Phil
| osopher at this juncture and swung
him around to an angle.
"Thus!' he continued, placidly.
Humanity would be perpetually
working at tangent. Advance
would be crablike-for a time; but
at length human beings would, by a
natural principle of habituation,
adapt themselves to the new condi-
tons of their existence-and, doubt
not, triumph over them. In such a
case a sudden burst of sunlight, of
clarified air, would affect them with
as singular a CONSERVATION as at
present is produced upon their senses
by this fog. Let us regard it rather
as typical of that state of mental at
mosphere through which the human
mind must forever be cropping to-
ward the light, in search of truth.
We can rely but upon the lamp of
philosophy for our guidance. Philos-
ophy rejects the disturbing influ-
ence-"
"Are you, then, philosopher, sir?"
she broke in, little timidly.
81 am said the Philosopher,
proudly. ''It has always been my aim
to triumph over the accidents of
chance. A fog, for instance, does not
in any way affect the equilibrium
of my mental serenity. Philosophy
in such climate as this especially
is the state of mind to which it
should be the object of every ra-
tional person to attain. What matter
whether one walks on the pavement
or the road? Philosophy scorns the
distinction. We cannot see the road,
but we know it is there-philosophy
rests satisfied with the fact"
She gave little cry, and stumbled
forward.
"Oh! What's that? tripped over
something"
The Philosopher drew her back to
an upright position.
''It was probably a dog. You
should not permit yourself to be
startled-you should not indulge the
emotions; all the emotions-fear,
joy, surprise, anger, love-are de-
structive of the philosophical attitude
of mind"
"Love, too?" she asked, with a
pleasing naivete.
'Love especially" he answered.
PHILOSOPHY and loye cannot exist to-
gether. Love is in it's very essence
antagonistic to the first principles
of philosophy. 1t rests more often
than not upon no rational basis what
ever. A lover cannot by any con-
ceivable concession be philosopher"
She made a little grimace, which
the Philosopher could not see.
Philosophy" he continued, tran
gully, sis superior to love; it is in
dependent of the domestic emotions;
it
''Then you are not married?" she
interrupted, softly.
Married." exclaimed the Philoso-
pher aghast. SHOULD I be philoso-
pher if 1 were? Marriage is quite de-
structive of philosophy"
'There was a lady called Kan
tippe"-she ventured timidly.
The Philosopher was little taken
aback.
81 beg you pardon?" he said.
'Socrates-he was married, you
know"
$50 he was" observed the Philoso-
pher, thoughtfully. ellis wife may
be considered to have furnished the
supreme test of his philosophy" he
added, in brighter tone.
sob, I'm afraid you're a missy
missy-missy-" She stopped, per-
picked. five forgotten the word. A
person who hates women"
'sMisogynist?" suggested the Phil
osopher.
"Thank you. Yes, that's the word.
Are you one of those dreadful peo-
ple?"
ga philosopher hates nothing. Not
even women" he replied, indulgently.
"And you prefer your horrid phil
osophy toto women?" she demand
ed with warmth.
SIN philosophy" was his passion
less rejoinder, ''we find truth; but
in women" He paused, rejecting
that the conclusion of the sentence
might bear an Interpretation person
ally ungratifying to his fair compan-
ion. She ruthlessly seized on the
| implication of, the unfinished phrase.
"You mean that all women are
false!" she said, dropping his hand.
| 81 should have satisfied myself
with more negative distinction" he
answered. "Pray be careful. There