The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-05-27
=. DIT o II / A l. -.

To state the degree that public sentiment or
preconceived conceptions supersedes Judgment
based upon reality would be difficult task. 1t Is
nevertheless notable fact, and of lamentable con-
seauence-to some-that in all human mental
activities the objective elements of perception
combine with the subjective in such a way that
complete perception may be so warped and twisted
as to contain elements which do not correspond
with reality In other words we see what wish
to see, and fail to see that which we do not wish
to see. The mind projects into the field of vision
it's own coloring and thus judgments may be-
come the by-prOducts of our apperceptlve
projections.
Turn pound of mercury into mans hand who
is being held and made to believe it is molten lead.
and tho it came from the refrigerator he will ex-
perience all the pain that hot lead would produce.
Our prejudices, our passions, our preconceived
conceptions, our antipathies, our likes and dis
likes are the Gods before which color judgment
grovels, like the ghost of Banquo they have usurp-
ed the seat, and judgment is made the slave.
We see things largely from the perspective of
our own mind, angled for public appreciation; thru
the spectacles of our own prejudces and passions,
which like those uneven lenses impart their own
properties to different objects from which rays
are emitted to dstort and disfgure them. But
since observation is e-eminently instrument
of investigation, it would seem that vision ought
necessarily be clear. How Oftenn says Shakes
pear, the world is still deceived by ornament"
and we might add, betrayed by reality. What
plea tinted and corrupt, but being seasoned Ger
with gracious voice Obscures the show of evil!'
It is highly essential that no DETECTION ought
occur in our angle of observation all data of
inductve inference is derived thru process of OBJ
servation and any DETECTION will effect the nature
of the data, hence, the nature of the result.
We may have omitted, as irrelevant, sections
from our field of vision while within those omitted
portions lie factors which possess determining sgnif
icance regards the subject of investigation, and
which would have altered the entire process of our
reasoning and result obtained. Thus exceptions.
preconceptions and prejudices, may have over
looked that, which would have had an important
bearing fact be passed over which if known
would have proven highly suggestive and would
have given an entirely different viewpoint.
The fact that no stars are at midday is
poor proof of their existence and the fact
that to the naked eye the animalcule remains un-
seen is hardly demonstration of its absence; vigor
GUS accommodation, violent vituperation and eager
accusation should not be conclusive of guilt.
Whenever the mind is possessed of certain
idea, honest and impartial judgment is restricted
to limited region, and adjacent regions wholly
overlooked To state as is often done, that no
opinion has been formed with respect to a subject
of investigation, after having been agitated and
worked over by public opinion is either to SANDER
intelligence the admission of the basest of ignor-
ance.
Whenever an inmate of quarantined quarter
approaches you you are loath to meet him. an
Indictment of eligibility to contamination has been
rendered against him and he must prove his free
dom from contamination before you meet him.
There has been doubt, or suspicion raised in
your mind by reason of the Indictment of quaran-
tine of his freedom from infection, and he must
satisfy you before he approaches He must prove
the negative. 1t is not alone Gin the matter of
quarantine that judgment is spoken against you at
the time your eligibility to suspicion has been
raised but in other activities as we'll.
All correct inference is based upon the nature
and relations of the subject in question, and not
upon the relations of the word or spirit in which
they happen to be spoken or the angle from which
our sensibilities would like to see them. s'An
openeyed vision, IN spite of all preconceptions or
preiudices is prime requisite for securing from