The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-30

EAkEHI been told by Uncle Silas, who
3hWN is now visiting me, that you
were disappointed in my let
ters: that you hoped l would write to
YOU. my old professor in sociology, on
topics which would show that I have
proffted by my opportunities to study
in a great city the science in which you
grounded me at the Saccharine acade-
my. 1 am glad to have this frank criti-
cism by you, and equally would have
welcomed it if you had made 1t to ms
instead of to my uncle. But l do not
admit that my letters lack sociological
value. do not recall that IN any OF
your lectures, nor in the text books,
the science of social phenomena-so
ciology-was defined as social develop
ment of the lower strata of society,
rather. than in the strata nearer the
top. Concerning the latter, certainly
have written to you at length. And
why not? Is it, as the political dema-
gogue, the sensational press. would
have us believe, that the lower classes
alone are worthy the consideration OF
thoughtful men? MOI In botany, DO
we neglect the rose because OF Its
beauty; the violet because of its sweet
perfufne2 Why, then, complain that
my letters have been largely about the
roses and 1iolets of society, instead OF
ill smelling weeds? The latter have
their uses and their place. no doubt,
but have not the rose and violet as
we'll?
Uncle Silas is disposed to be merry
at what he asserts is a great change in
NV views of life, which he attributes
to the fact that find myself possessed
of greater aptitude for agreeableness
to people of my own class than to the
submerged class of whom I once, he re-
minds me, thought so highly-theoret-
ically.
Reuben" said Uncle Silas to me
the other day, ''the only time you at
tempted to address an audience of the
lower class you had to thrash your
hearers before they would listen to
you. You find, however, that audi
ences of your own class will listen to
YOU without the help of the police TO
make them do SO, and therefore you
have become an aristocrat, butter
fly of fashion, a devotee of the futile
5 o'clock tea, a connoisseur in the arts,
a follower of the foibles of the day.
One does not always take Uncle ST.
las seriously, but to humor his vein l
challenged his statement, and he re-
sponded with a formidable bill of par
ticulars. Until he reminded me pre-
cfsely what my avocations were, day
by day, had not realized how wholly
my time is occupied with matters
which I would have looked upon as
proftless, or even somewhat wicked,
but a few months ago.
And yet. my dear professor, 1 return
to my defense-why is not the study
OF the higher classes of society valua-
BILE to the student Of sociology? I sub
nit the question. You write in the
most kind manner that, after all, your
interest is in me, personally; that you
would enjoy a letter as to my plans
and hopes as much as to hear my con-
lectures as to the plans and hopes Of
some millions of people who get along
very weIl-or i'll, as the case may be
without our observations, or conclu-
sions thereon. I shall be pleased, then.
to write such a letter.
Since the arrival OIL Uncle S1ldS L
have been engaged more than ever, if
possible in society duties. He is, as
you are aware, a preacher Of the gospel
of doing things, and. in truth. does
everything but sleep; thus finding it
possible to work all day with affairs in
the financial district and participate
most of the night in affairs of the po-
lite set in which I am now a not incon-
spicdous member. His sister, my dear
Aunt Sarah. claimed his evenings ex-
clusixely for time, but OF late he has