Year: 1859




Apparent Contradictions of Human Nature.


You will meet a Calvinist and an Arminian on
the same day, and be surprised to reflect that the
former is the more amiable man of the two. Yield
ing to what he thinks an irresistible logic, he, so
far from carrying it out regarding his fellow-crea
lures in his own behavior to them, has face of
genialIty to all, and is universal benetactOr One
could almost suppose that Just because he does pro-
fess stern creed, he the more feels himself called
upon to prove that it does not chill his heart-where
as the Arminian is under no such call. Or it may
be that, secretly having some misglvings to that
universal pardon which his own heart would ex-
tend, he feels as if there were some balm for him
in supposing that another and higher Power will
be less relenting. 1t may be partly in both ways
that the strange contradiction arises. Perhaps the
phenomenon of the ''best natured man with the
worst natured muse' is of the same character-a
remorsefu and self-reproaching complaisance "tak-
ing it out'' in little occasional quiet satire.


One of the most remarkable contradictions be-
tween personal behavior and theory ever known,
was in the case of the celebrated Mr.. Malthus.
The harshness of his doctrine (however true) to-
wards the affections of poor human nature, was
what we all know. Men used to figure him, in
consequence, as sour, stoical old bachelor, who
could have calmly looked on while starvation and
pestlence were checking off the supernumerares
of creation. But the real Mr. Malthus, as we know
from the reports of those who knew him, was an
amiabe, gente-natured country parson, who grew
old in the sunshine of freside which his worth
and kindiness had blessed. He would have been
precisely the last man in the world to interfere
harshly with thu tastes and enjoyments of others,
or to order any one away from natures feast or
any other feast, as a person for whom there no
platter. He whose name has been worked into the
languag as expressive of the undesirableness of
children, was fond of children, and beloved by
them, as usual, In return. 1t would have been a
curious study for any one who knew him Intimate
ly, to trace what it in his mind that suggested
to him, and enabled him to maintain so pertlna
ciously, dogma which mankind in general have
viewed with a kind of horror. Perhaps the very
Inconsistencies of unkind feelings towards his
fellow-creatures was what enabled him to take up
his unkind doctrine; a colder man might have dis
trusted him, fearful it might be an emanation of
his severity of temper, for which he would get into
discredit.


State parties and individual politicians profess
Ing patriotic views ought in consistency, to be the
most kind and beneficent in their persooal acts;
while the partisans of strong government might be
expected to prove tyrants in their own circles.
Bnt there is notorious remark to precisely the
contrary purport-namely, that the professors OF
patriotism and philanthropy are often more ex-
acting arbitrary and harsh their private conduct
than the most high-fying Tories. Is it that the
former can satisfy the calls of conscience In the
case by the profession and the advocacy, and feel
ing as if no more were wanting, do no more ac
cordngly, but rather feel themselves entitled to be
little sour now and then while the Tories, sensi
bic that their doctrine would subjugate the people
(for their own good), are under a call to show,
that with this severity on their lips, they be
practically benefcent-w willing, shall say, to do
every imaginable thing for their fellow-creatures
but trust them with the power of doing any thing
for themselves:


There's gain that strange, deep remark of Swift,
that nice people are people of filthy ideas. 1t is
satire of refinement surely in the main unjust; but
there are certainly some people of great external
nicely whose inner minds, as occasionally appears
in their conduct, are far from being ceanly. Pro-
badly it is, that sensible of the fault they fly for
solace to the exemplihcation of theopposite. They
nice through mere antagonlsm to their want OF
true purity.


In one of the personal narratives of the siege of
Lucknow, it is stated that many OF the persons for
mery most noted for their courtesy and good man.
ners. proved, in the exigencies of the time, uncom
monty selhsh while among people who had been
thought rude and rather rough, there were many
bright examples of selfsacriicing kindness. Is it
to be believed that put virtues because they
have them not? only speak of sincerity when they
are shamming? and will even be deceivers in their
faults?


l must confess to a disrelish for perfect charac
ters or persons who are always strainng up to some
uncommon pitch of correctness in some particular
point When L find an uneasy restless, unsatisia-
BILE eagerness about being good, | always fear that
the goodness may not prove solid or lasting, that
it may be accompanied by error in some other
quarter, more than down-weighing it. The really
worthy people those who make little din or fuss