St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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disseminator of ethical truth. In his book he reasoned that in humanity the mind is dominant over the heart, that, knowing this, man should school himself so that the heart's dictates can be no longer felt or used, and that the mind alone should be the governor of the soul. We may see clearly that such reasoning is in direct oppo- sition to any idea of the existence of true love, and Rudolph Barton felt that it existed only in name. How- everf, said he, I will follow out the course I have planned, for, although I am at present convinced that there is no love, yet whose opinions are so strong that they may not be changed? Perhapsf, he added, with a cynical laugh, some day I may ind myself in love. Who knows? UNO, no, master, you can never love. 'What natural love instinct there may have been within your heart you have killed, and I feel that your succeed- ing years will be miserable, inasmuch as you have denied yourself its comforts and its attendant joy, interposed Cecil. f'Comforts-attendant joy! Bah! You talk like a woman, or a man of weak mind. Be strong. Steel yourself against such a demoralizing .delusion as the much-vaunted and high-blown love. Take a pipe and be easyf' Rudolph handed the secretary a pipe, filled and lit his own of meerschaum, and by the light of the warm wood ire, the two smoked in silence. The tobacco fumes seemed to exert a peculiar soothing influence on them both, and for an hour or more neither spoke. The thoughts of these two men differed as Widely 1 1 l I F 120 as their natures, in the one we see an unsatished, inquir- ing mind, and an uneasy, unhappy nature,-in the other a contented, quiet disposition, Na mind accepting unques- tioningly existing conditions as they are. Rudolph, between puffs of smoke, gazed long and thoughtfully into the bright, glowing embers, while now and then a frown broke the calm, sad expression of his features. Cecil's face bore an expression indicative of the contentment and indifference he felt. Thus they sat there-each occupied with his thoughts, each absorbed in the contemplation of his life's work and mission, each considering the extent of his worth to the world. 4' Cecilf' said Rudolph Barton after a while, have you heard any more concern- ing the popularity and success of my philosophical treatise P, What did you learn with regard to it while in the metropolis? Sir,'l replied the secretary, your name is becoming well known. The world is beginning to regard you as a cynical genius. Some say you have been disappointed in life and are at variance with the World. Others hazard the opinion that you are insane, and that your work is but the fanciful creation of a diseased imagination. None except your friends know your life's historyf' After a short pause, Rudolph said: H Yes, my dear Cecil, I believe it is true that I am gain- ing notoriety, not to say fame. I have an idea. As you know, I shall leave this place very soon, within the next three or four months. 'When I rejoin society, it must be under a different name. Cecil, can I trust you P ' and

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And now, being acquainted with the sentiments, de- sires, and amhitions of Rudolph Barton, we will follow him in the course he has planned for himself, aml will assume him to have just entered upon his year old seclu- sion and study. Cease writing, thus commanded Rudolph Ilarton. In a small hut comfortable room, uncarpted, aml un adorned save for a few pictures and curios, he strode up and down, deeply occupied in thought. The secretary had, in ohedience, ceased his writing, aml toyed mechan- ically with his pen, waiting as though expecting his mas ter to say or do something llarton was silent for a moment aml then said, Cecil, have you ever divim-d the cause of my coming' to this place? Ilid you ever speculate as to why I am secluded thus- apart lirom all men save you and my two servants? Iiolcl aml seal the letters you have written aml I will tell you. The sec- retary did as he was hid, aml listened as Rudolph ex- plained at length the causes which prompted him to shun the society olithe world. I intend, in addition to my study, to engage myselt' in writing a work on philosophy. My views on that subject are peculiar, and, I think, rare. hut I think they will prove ot' inestimalile henelit to those who read aml properly appreciate them. Bly philosophy shall he the philosophy ol' love, aml I shall require your aid in the compilation of the work. Ah, sir, replied Cecil, you may expect hut little aid from me. My ex- I perience has heen limited. and I could not hope to assist you materially in a work that requires a deeper hrain aml a more ahumlant liund of ideas than I possess. Never- theless, your will is mine, aml I shall try. Yery gimtlai rejoined Rudolph Barton. you may leave me now. I wish to lie alone. .-Ks Cecil lelit the room. Rudolph walked over to the open window aml stood look- ing out upon the wild, grand. mountain scenery, hut thoughts ot' the rocky landscape did not occupy his mind. Am I a deluded fool that I should do this ? he solilotpiized. No, it cannot he. I would discover truth. aml the knowledgethat it isa connnendalile under taking will soothe aml solace me in my restless, anxious moments. I shall endeavor to determine whether man shall accept as his proper monitor and guide his heart or his lirainf' So saying. he turned aml sat down in the chair, his secretarv had lelt aml was soon in communion with Ilythagoras aml l'lato. liigtht months of Rudolph llarton's hernnt lile had passed. Ile had completed his liook on the philosophy . ,. ., of love, and under the name ol Ileart vs. Nlind he had pulilished it. .Xlthough not widely read. the hook had received several favoralile criticisms from learned men, aml the noveltv ot' the ideas cmliodied in the work, together with the clear logical reasoning from cause to ct-It-ct, lirought him into closer sympathy with philosophi- cal thinkers, and he came to lie regarded as an astute

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Y ' 'i M Y --.. -R A ' L i THE TWO SNIQHED