Its unquiet teachings responded to the unquiet
yearnings of men. Your conservatism, your reverence for established
institutions, has done the rest. No! I do not call to mind any passages
in the Bible commending the temperate philosophic life; though it would
be strange if so large a miscellany did not contain a few sound
reflections. Temperance," he concluded, as though speaking to
himself--"temperance! All the rest is embroidery."
Mr. Heard was thoughtful. The American observed:
"That side of the case never struck me before. How about Solomon's
proverbs?"
"Maxims of exhaustion, my dear friend. It is easy to preach to me. I am
an old man. I can read Solomon with a certain patience. We want
something for our children--something which does not blight or deny, but
vivifies and guides aright; something which makes them hold up their
heads. A friend, an older brother; not a pedagogue. I would never
recommend a boy to study these writings. They would lower his spirits
and his self-respect. Solomon, like all reformed debauchees, has a
depressing influence on the young.
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