which everybody in Edinborough in his time had to 
accept, or fail in the examination, but which every 
other school in Europe regarded as nonsense.  Such 
training can only serve to unbalance and destroy the 
mind.  Mr. Stuart avoided this tragedy.  Instead, he 
read everything, kept his eyes open, and never 
allowed the specious arguments of the logician to 
lure him into conclusions opposed to common 
sense.  Almost every writer falls into some trap.  
Either he omits a premise, or takes a false one, or 
commits some logical error unperceived.  But with 
such skill does he execute his sophistry, and so 
deeply does his vanity flatter him, that even the 
most careful revision fails to discover the error.  
Consequently, humanity is always the prey of 
deceptions.  Think for example of the arguments in 
favor of vegetarianism.  It is impossible to refute 
them.  At the same time they are totally invalid, 
because they neglect one single, small, but all-
important fact: “Man is a carnivorous animal.”  The 
calibre of Mr. Stuart’s mind is such that he is 
incapable of being of hoodwinked by any mere 
arguments, however clever, cogent, and convincing.  
He invariably applies the standard of truth, intuitive 
or instinctive, to the conclusion.  And if there be a 
contradiction, he perceives it instantly.  A brain of 
this kind is peculiarly useful in America, where the 
people are the slaves of false logic.  In transplanting 
themselves from their native soil, they have left 
behind them their greatest possession: inherited race 
knowledge.  I have never yet met a stupid 
American.  But Mr. Stuart is almost the only one 
whom I have met who was not silly.  No people are