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Show MAN CYNICAL. Thero Is no proven worth in tho derivation de-rivation of tho word "cynic," which a moderato Greek grammar knowledge may suggest to somo, that a cynic Is a man who goes about his way with a dog at his heels. If the cynical man does In point of fact own a dog, It Is unfair to tho dog to regard tho circumstances cir-cumstances of ownership as other than an arcldisnt of existence which might befall any man or dog. Tho man cynical cyn-ical is a common acquaintance of ours, unknown by any uniformity of taste with his cynical brethren in matters of dross or tho like. Ho lives with an admirable curl of the Hp or tongue that Is of studied purpose sword-like, and a mind of iconoclastic discernment. discern-ment. In days when all things must needs have points of emphasis, tho man cynical seems outwardly to be a upon that side of life which presents, ilsasonablo and porsonnl emphasis upon that sldo of life which presents, according to cur egotistical and prejudiced pre-judiced opinion, a series of nnnmnllc3. Life, as modernly lived, Is no doubt a jumblo of contradictory facts; but. while life Itself supplies tho facts, man supplies tho contradiction. And the man cynical Is he who Is tho essence of a natural contradiction to most things. So, being contradictory of nature, It often happens that the cynic Is, by those who love him little, accounted ac-counted rude and lacking in ethical propriety; but ho has his method of living, and ho goes broad-breasted to the winds of popular displeasure, which blow upon him from mnny quarters. quar-ters. He has. to his own seeming, found the deficiency In life's weights, and with somo sort of enthusiasm lie hurls his own personality into tho lighter balance. Ho is not altogether faultless, for ho has located barriers of artificiality which ho discerns, with right or wrong judgment, to be an In- superablo paradox preventing tho right solution of tho problem of "bene vlvero" and these barriers must bo destroyed. After somo such manner thinks tho man cynical, and his pride Is that ho of all men is endowed with the wisdom to set aright the things which aro wrong. Ho knows himself to bo the plenipotentiary of perfection, and this perfection ho bolicv.es to bo of destruction rather than construction. If tho man cynical wore Indeed what ho supposes himself to bo, there would b'e little use in writing further; hut, fortunately, his negative office has no real sanction. Ho Is a victim of social dyspepsia, for which the aggressive panaceas of tho day have failed to find a remedy. His cynicism has set an unconscious limit of progress to his existence, for ho has no sympathy In the dreamings wherein men of other typos make to themselves semi-detached habitations of tho mind the ono part joined, It is irrevocably true, to tho world wherein all men llvo, but tho other part pointing to a suggestive sug-gestive and pleasing meadowland of aspiration. Tho man cynical may like at times to let his gaze wander meadow-wards, but ho has learnt to lovo better the bitter weeds of his own cardon: so he remains essentially a creature of tire earth, living in his own circumference of scorn. Public Opinion, Opin-ion, London. |