New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
ON FOOLS.
The UsefuIness Of Some of Them

From The London Spectator.
Into the clever fool class cone tyxo -.
rare and superior kinds one may I've a -
time and not encounter more than one OF esc5
But they do exist. We mean the learned -
and the fool Of culture The learned fool 4. =
fact giuttOn.' IL may be allowed ne -
preston. He has more appetite for kno.glai-.
than power 70 asslmliate t. Kept in his u.e1.
he IS useful a kind OF index % other -.
but once let him get what Scotch people ~
above himself and he viii begin 70 Use -
facts missiles and become a great inteIec-r-I
danger. The cultivated fool has lived IN -
dollhouse atmosphere OF a highly cuclva--i
clique till he literally smells Of culture. but ~
source Of the aroma is not in mis- own mind ana
If put out to air among PhiIstInes Tor A slffcie1,
period he will lose ali traces Of his much prizad
artifciality. 1t Is a great bore 20 be obliged b
observe for any length Of time The antics Of ths
type Of fool; but they are amusing sometimes %
tell about.
Very few silly fools" afford any pleasure :,
the spectator. Yet out OF two types OF them
same dangerous entertainment may be derived
The first of these two - a pretty wOnan-an
inhabitant, perhaps, Of the fool freIuented far
Of Vanity But she may thrive anywhere IN
any station AS a rule, she IS not such 4 FOOL
as she looks, and her mind is capable OF some
expansion at least in direction. the direction
of self-interest- The man made 70 match her 3
generally aware that folly is his most remark
able quality and he likes 20 be remarkable
for anything. he exaggerates it al ne can. Did
he omit to act in an ineffaoly silly manner 10
one would notice his actions at all Those Who
enjoy the sight Of his folly &c great extent
responsible for him. and he IS an entirely Use-
less member OF society, the responsibility 9
pretty heavy.
AS to the fool Of fiction. the only fear abou:
enjoying him is that We should come % imagine
that he really exists. The greater number OF fc-
titiOus fools are in French books. The fool %
the French author is n puppet made OF a MKT
ure of saintliness, Stiffness and sin Generally
he does not know right from wrong. ard h Sc
dom has any sense Of duty. AL his good works
are works Of sUpererOgltiOn- He is capable q
self-saCrifice and his errors proceed from defect
rather than design. Not that he IS deficient u
the ordinary sense Of the word; indeed. be 8
usually represented as having some kind o.
genius.
As to the fool who never knows his own r.
terest. he may be the most charming or TIE
most irritating Of people. but Il Is L-Q7ssi5s
in either case 70 dislike him In the least ESD
mable form he is no ones enemy but his own"
IN his highest he is one Of the finest types which
human nature produces. The early E-Cnc-Srl1s
called themselves '-the fools OF the world and
an epitaph on q priest Of the fourteenth century
Quoted By DOran in his court FoOls.J i1vOseS
heaven for "this thy fool" We Gct the express
sion "a fool in the Court OF Col" used IL 1873
in a Iaudatory sense. Probably St Paurs da--
ing and eloquent expression. We ara fools Or
Christ's sake threw this flcciful and BEAUTIFUL
side meaning into the word The E--- who
realizes that the highest wisdom is not 20 3
measured BY the foot rule Of prudence IS per-
haps the only fool whose folly may De enjoyed
without economy. and who All through -h- .l-eS
has Illustrated the old saying that 2 t0o- NJ
learn wise man Wit