The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-08-06
The Contradiction of
Human Nature.

Without doubt it may be said that
human nature is mixture of contra
diction, and no matter how long we
tive and how much we study it, the
less we seem to know about it. To
the different rules that govern it, there
are many exceptions, but concerning
it nothing can be predicted with
certainty except it's absolute uncertain
ty. Many of us have sat in church
and listened to heart touching burst
of oratory regarding a mothers love.
1t is subject many preachers have
founded their discourse on; poets and
writer's have sung and written about
it, especially those writer's of morality.
Now I do not wish to eradicate the
great fact or otherwise belittle such
an absolute truth, but l suppose those
different parties whom I have Just
mentioned seem to know all about it,
because l suppose they have or had
at one time the divinest of all crea-
lures, a mother. 1 have not the slight
est idea of ridicu1ing or belittling such
a great general truth, but let rue re-
mark that even what has been the
eloQuence of preachers, the song of
q poet aud the eleVating idea of q
writer, namely, motherly affection,
which is the benefcent rule, either
has its sometimes overwhelming ex-
ceptions or else the sweet maternal
disposition seems to have most
peculiar way of expressing itself.
No doubt a good many of our lead
ing public men could, probably, write
volumes about maternal affection.
Take for instance some of our police
court judges or lawyers; of course
they might not regard it from the
same point of view as a parson or a
poet. Perhaps to some it would be
interesting, but to many it would
prove unpleasant. Now let us try and
take q sample, just small lot, from
the traditional structure Of mothers
love literature. Three of the most
beautiful words the English language
contains are Mother, Home and I1eav
en-. There is no doubt that mother il
the truest and best friend we have got
for when trials heavy and sudden fal
upon us, when dark clouds encompass
us about, when friends who in success
stood by us but when misfortune greet'
as, desert, when one and all have lef
as as tho we were plague stricken, still
with all kindness and affection will sh'
cling to us and strive by her kindl,
advice and motherly teaching to chas
away sorrow and desolatiOn and t
again bring sunshine to our sad AM
deserted hearts. Now, feed sur
every one can realize, as we'll as recog
nize, the most worthy likeness of wha
in general could be called the typica
mother. But sad to acknowledge i
there are other types that can have "A
claim to this grand, typical likeness
Here are two examples. that appeare
in q certain court some little Will
back. One was the mother of fOu
teen-year-Old boy who was. arrested fe
stealing oranges and who had bee
convicted before for stealing q keg {
gin. The mother gave the boy asplel
did character and spoke for q Ion
time on what noble principles wei
laying dormant in his mind and whic
only needed mothers guiding han
to bring out and develop, also of VIII
great benefit to mankind he wOua
become in after years if the judl
would give him his liberty. The JUDI
gave him five years and gave Il
mother good scolding, holding h
responsible forthe boys crime, becau'
after being released for his frst often
on suspended sentence she made hi
60 and collect the money from Il
liquor dealers to whom he had SO
the stolen keg of gin. The grief
mother and son could hardly be d
: scrfbed, as both were removed mid
an awful burst of weeping. The 9th
case is Of woman who wished
prosecute her son, aged ten years. I
stealing ten dollars from her; she G
be described as being very stylish
dressed, wearing large merry wids