SOBER AND INCAPABLE.
The ordinary man is apt to underrate the capacity of the minor enthusiast. Great fanatics rank in the eyes of the world with men of genius, but lesser persons of the same type are always called fools by the Philistine when first he sees them. Time and again, however, the Philistine has to eat his words. The enthusiast is often mistaken, but he is almost always effectual because it is capable men who are liable to enthusiasms. All sorts of movements which finally overwhelm the Philistine have been carried through by the group of enthusiasts at whom he has laughed as ridiculous dreamers or weak sentimentalists. Very often they have been pressed to a successful issue without the aid of any single man of what we may call fanatic rank. The power of goodness cannot be quoted by any means always to account for their triumph. Many successful enthusiasts are not so very scrupulous, but they are capable. The Philistine never admits a mistake. That is the only certain proof that he is a true Philistine. When he finds that the clamour he laughed at has turned into " a question," one that has claimed'the ear of the country or even of the world, he changes his position. He always knew there was a great deal in it, he says, but he objected to the methods of its promulgators ; and if his own words are quoted against him, he smiles superior, and says that the quoting of warm expressions spoken in other circumstances is not " the game." " The game " is his city of refuge.
But, leaving aside great movements, think of the small persons of no account, especially women, with private propaganda on hand. What bores they are ; but what a lot they get done. Are we not often tempted to hope that we shall never again meet Mrs. So-and-so ? We are so tired of her craze about this, that, or the other small abuse or reform. We succeed, perhaps, in avoiding, and even forgetting, her for a long time, and then all of a sudden we are confronted by what she has accomplished. " Yes," say her friends, " she was very full of her theories at one time, and we all got a little weary of hearing of them, but what a capable woman she is ! " Again, how often do we hear with surprise that some young man or young woman, whose enthusiasms for persons or ideas made him o
her ridiculous, has managed somehow or other to become essential somewhere. We hear of him again as " the life and soul " of some business undertaking or as " absolutely necessary " to some great venture. We hear of her as the mother of " very brilliant• boys " who owe their scholastic triumphs "entirely to her," or as the wife of some rising man of whom the world says that he " could not have made that success alone." It is not impossible that even a friendly critic may add of them both that they had always a good opinion of themselves; but that does not detract from their capacity. Even in the case of children soberness is not a good sign so far as capacity goes ; and a judgmatical attitude, while it leads their elders to say that there is " no nonsense in them," is no proof of grit, though of course it may accompany it.
Where the Philistine so often makes a mistake is that he fancies the enthusiast is not a realist. The truth is that realism is often taken for sentimentalism. "These men are full of new wine," says the world, and is shortly surprised to find that the " drunkards " have accomplished the impossible. Sometimes they are left drunk—metaphorically speaking—by the roadside. " Look at the sentimentalist in the gutter," laughs the Philistine. Realism is a heady wine, and only the few can carry it. There are terrors and joys of which only a very strong man can think without reserve. There is no such thing as looking coldly on the truth. Only some people have an impression that so long as you are cool that is where you are looking.
But, as we have suggested above, there arc some grave and incapable people for whom there is a great deal to be said—even if it is all in the way of excuse. Their minds turn upon great matters which are too high for them, and of which they never get but a misty sight, but it is something that they lift their eyes towards the hills. It is true that they waste their time in trying to get to conclusions about questions on which their conclusions can be of no value except to the owner, and that they have never been known to arrive at one; but it must be remembered that they cannot help it. In everyday affairs and in the practical conduct of life they are very inept. What then is the use of their setting their thoughts on them ? Their root defect is want of energy, and that means want of will-power. As a rule they know it, and do not excuse themselves. They realize early that if luck be not on their side they must fail, and, knowing how little they owe to themselves, they are not self-satisfied. As much consolation as misery comes out of the element of chance in the game of life. It is very difficult to calculate chances, and it is inexplicable how often the " nice " incapables avoid disaster. They appear to drift, but currents are often favourable, and not seldom some other vessel with more steam than it needs will take them in tow. " Some boats come in which are not steered," and far more than seems possible at the outset. Very grateful, anxious, and bewildered, the incapable makes his port amid the cheers and laughter of his friends. " From fearful trip comes in the ship." Perhaps some explanation of the luck lies in the fact that the very best incapables know themselves, and know their neighbours. He or she keeps in mind that, though he or she is a partial fool, he or she is not a whole one and has 631110 very good wits very much at the service of benefactors. Unpractical men or women, though unsaved by the divine drunkenness of enthusiasm, have yet a good deal to give. They know that all their lives they will be, in a measure, dependent and must accept much, and they determine to offer an exchange. It is easier to them than to most people to be unselfish, for no envies and jealousies assail them. They content themselves with proceeding upon side-lines, and do not increase the congestion of the highway. Not infrequently they make a pleasant journey through life, keeping out of the dust. We might become quite sentimental in the con- sideration of their advantages if we did not know that a little money, ever so little, is almost essential to their salvation—almost but not quite I The Providence whose indulgence to youth and intoxication is proverbial sometimes puts out an unexpected hand to the poorest and soberest of middle-aged incapables.
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