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EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES.


ROME.


April 2a~ 1899.


My Dear Son Clara:-


In one of your re,:~ ent letters YQusaifj something


which conveyed the impr" assion to me that you felt I · had not given you


sufficient instruction in certain directions, particularly as to ~


general views of life. The subject is too vast to be covered bS a..


letter, but this being Arthur's birthday, and I having. a little spare


time, I will state briefly a few general consideration~ on the subje~ t


as I view it.


We do not kno~ ( religious belief 1; JonlY helief), why we


are here, - where we came from, - or what will become of us after the


few years that we spend here are over. We may, however, by observation


and reason decide what is the best course for us to pursue while here.


As to this, my own thol~ ht may be summarized in two


statements; first, a man should make his life useful to theoomrntlnity;


second, in all directions that do not interfere with the public go~ 4


he should make it = at valuable and satisfactory to himself.


Contintling this line of reasoning, it is evident that the wan


who gives himse" lfup to vicious indulgence, is 1m absolute detriment to