Concerning Children : Large Print

Obedience, we are told, is a virtue. This seems simple and conclusive, but on examination furtherquestions rise.What is "a virtue"?What is "obedience"?And, if a virtue, is it always and equally so?"There is a time when patience ceases to be a virtue." Perhaps obedience has its limits, too.A virtue is a specific quality of anything, as the virtue of mustard is in its biting quality; of glass,transparency; of a sword, its edge and temper.

In moral application a virtue is a quality in mankindwhereby we are most advantaged.

We make a distinction in our specific qualities, claiming some tobe good and some bad; and the virtues are those whereby we gain the highest good.

These virtues ofhumanity change in relative value with time, place, and circumstance.

What is considered a virtue inprimitive life becomes foolishness or even vice in later civilisation; yet each age and place can showclear reason for its virtues, trace their introduction, rise into high honour, and gradual neglect.For instance, the virtue of endurance ranks high among savages.

To be able to bear hunger and heatand cold and pain and dire fatigue,-this power is supreme virtue to the savage, for the simplereason that it is supremely necessary to him.

He has a large chance of meeting these afflictions allthrough life, and wisely prepares himself beforehand by wilfully undergoing even worse hardships.