New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-19
GSSA
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20 20 E7GE1kS'
on VICES AND VIRTUES.

His was OF the sweetest natures I ever
knew" said the Idealist. remniscently- 1T might
truly be said of him that even his failngs leaned
to virtues side"
Il don't see the use OF such lavish sweetness"
said the Practical Woman. when. you say. It
was bestowed upon ali alike. and all alike were
so soon forgotten. II ne loved and rode away In
every case you knew. there wasn't much virtue in
his love"
The Idealst smiled. II suppose not, II you took
it too seriously she said but. taking It as did
as a wild flower by the wayside. II one may so ex-
press II, the use was manifest His sympathy
with everything human perfectly honsst for
the time and his smile was permanent encour-
misunderstanding to remember and take heart
OF grace. But don't say that he had the higher
virtues. and OF course would require those for
everyday wear"
of course indeed said the Practical Woman.
emphatcaIly. These pretty evanesoent virtues
are ornamental. but they don't serve They are
uke-Lks''-
Like fine muslin dresses in winter" interrupted
the IdeaIist. But how much depends" she added
musingly. upon the way you wear your virtues!
You can make them so uncomfortable that they
lean to vices sideT'
= don't see what you mean
We'll you can wear them like a pair Of new
shoes tight gown. You can make yourself
and all around you miserable by them This ap-
plies chiefly TO the practical virtues, such as
punctuality. carefulness, unsehshness, and 80 on
What vicious virtues they can De!
rs it posstbls you have never had your life
made miserable by the unselhsh person VINO
makes conspicuous sacrifices and humiiate5
comfort? have frequently developed pronounced
ease of morbid conscience from the unwhoesoTre
in their cult Of seIf-sacrifce That it becomes i'm
possible for them TO conceal their noble eTtorts
ali mankind and while you are writing under
the sense of obligation you wonder why you eau eau
not appreciate them more thoroughIy, ana you
conclude that it is because you are a hopeless
reRT2Pae gEen over to ssl fTs practical
At believe that the reason l never could ike my
US Eel mean, ma and am Just little Weary Of sigh
I ing over her martyred condition. She does SO
Exactiy' have arrived at the conclusion that
unselhEh persons rarely generous Iney 40 no, no.
And there are other virtues equally exaspera ting
aGn see eut hoT IN TSe PTacicai woman The
most eXasperatng trait know OF is the lack OF ~
mats b true al S o5 Datience IN Disguise just
as the kind Of unseIhshness We have been speaking
95 ks feef Of Their punctuay for Example
are those terrible come-to-n1eals- minute
Eqg don't approve of , Irregular meals cried
mot at ali: but disapprove of the fanatics who
refuse you five minutes grace to get your hanos
so forth How can you remember to stop work
ahead Of time when you are deeply Interested: 10
life This 'on-the-minute' business is almost as
bad the other extremes It's an excuse for I'm.
speTe are no asoS degTse virtue wrongv
worT ls clearly vice and vice worn gracefully
ooh, come now-comeI Can you be liar or
Nc ri admit that. But you can make truth
unEracious, and temperance an excuse for unprac-
v vlfq5 5Ob eane6 10 vce E sde many
We'll" said the other, when You talk OF IN
after ali. on what you call impractical
"Au virtues carried 10 injurious excess IN,
ways Of being good and none of them are easyr'