The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-24
REST rs IMMORAL.



have before me n characteristic lettcr by
Mazzin. never published. but which Mrs Meu-
tin Taylor twifc OF L. A. Taylor has gathered up
In 2 little selection OF pieces written for Pen
House. | remember well, though II is ten years
since the impression made by this letter on our
Gn Fay an ,sg w ana Knst arhaIu
tie pictures and literary sketches. was suddenly
arraignod before tho genius OF Unrest. The
DEAREST FRIEND: The subject ~ your mect-
ing OF tomorrow IL so suggestive that would
gladly loin y9a AL and write an essay on it II
hnps bettcrsO. My essay canddly avow. would
tend to prove that no essay ought TO be written
on tho subject IL has no reality. sort OF in
tuitiyc instinct led you TO couple Ghosts and
Rest" together.
There is here own, and there ought to be.
no rest. Life ~ an AMMAN aim which can be
approached. not reached. There is. therefore.
no rest Rest IL immoral.
1t il not mine now, to give definition Of the
aim whatever IL il, there is one, there must be
one: Without IT life has no sense. 1t il athes-
tical. and moreover. an irony and deception.
bors Of your club. but venture to say that any
contribution ON rest which will not exhibit at the
top definition Of life viii wander sadly be-;
common places.
Life IL no sinecuro, no recherche du bonhelr,
10 be secured. as the promugators Of the theory
had IT, by guillotinc; or. us their less energetic
followers have it. by railway shares. scfshness
or contemplation Life Is. IA Schiller. said, a
evil for justice against arbitrary privileges, for
liberty against oppression. for associated love
against indlvidualism march onward to self.
through collective periecting, to the progressive
realization Of an ideal which IL only dawnng to
our mind and soul. Shall the battle be finally
won during lifetime? Shall II be on earth? Are
we believing in "A millennium Do we not feel
that the spiral curve through which we ascend
had its beginning elsewhere. and has its end. If
any. beyond this terrestrial world OF Oursl
Where Is. then, q possible foundation for your
essays and skeichesy
Goethe's Contemplation" has created null
titude Of little sccts aiming at rest where is no
rest. falsifying art the element OF which Is evo-
contemplation. and cnervating the soul in self
nbdicating Brah manic attempts. For God sake.
let not your club add one little sect ~ the fatally
existing hundreds.
There IL nothing 10 be looked for in lifc OK
ccpt the uninterrupted fulimont Of duty and
not rest. but consolation and strengthening
from love. There IL not rest, but II prpmisc-a
shadOwing forth Of rest in love. Only there
must be in love absolute trust, and II Is very sell
dom that this blessing depends on us. The child
goes To sleep with unboundcd trust on the
mothers bosom but our sleep is a restless one.
agitated by sad dreams and alarms.
You Will smi" at my luguhrOus turn OF MIND
hut If ! were ono Of your artists would sketch
idea. Tor the cause Of truth. with the eye look
ing trustfully on loving woman, whose finger
would trustfully and smlingly point out to him
the unboundcd Under the sketch | would
write. not rest. but n promise of rest" Addo
Tell me- one word about the point of view Of your
contributors. Ever ailcctionutcly yours.
JOSEPH MAXIM.