Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-07-02
Live and Learn.
A Paper read by Mr.. Chas. +. Cassel at
Huyos regular meeting on the 25'h, ult.

1t Is not all of life to liyc: living, simply
to fill out three score years and ten; ten
more, ten less. even with this margin is II
commonplace it is but grasping at an cn-
deavor to he consistent with a platitude, or
to become surety for the correctness of a
proverb.
To live, and yet not to appreciate that
others livc-how, why and to what end
is but to exist, to be: it does not symbolic
life, nor does it measure up to the fullncss
that scnticnt beings. of even but average
intelligence will, within few decades more,
require.
There is q rhythm III the step of this era
and only those who catch the measure OF ITS
heat really live. There is no occasion to step
ont rapidly and be dubbed n crank or phc-
nomcnon. We need not talk or think Mt
random to be up with the age, cmpy rean
though bc its height and apparently beyond
reach.
Wcm:,st take time for reflection running
beer gathers no foam yet to move con-
servativcly and think studiouSiy, what realms
are opened unto MS. And how? BY just
such methods as the Hugo Literary Society
suggests: by the art of borrowing, unpopular
though this art in matters practical is adj
Judged by borrowing never to return, the
thought, the research, the magnificent pro-
ccsscs of other,' reasoning 1t Is by this
legitimate theft of the product of others
brains that we are privileged TO liyea realm
ofthough, and inhabit Il domain scientifically
impossible per Sc, and yet be honorable men
and women.
We follow the intricate reasoning Of a
Spencer, Dwight or Huxley, readily, If VIC
have aught OF power within us TO weigh the
language, and yet we do not even aspire to
the right to discuss the magnificent themes
of mind, theology and nature the profound
research of which has linked these names to
immortality.
Yes. we read and really understand; we
follow, while We dare not venture to preccdc
by even one step, the authors of all that Is
grand and magnificent in the domain of
pure thought, pure theology, pure science.
This is the province, this the aim and
scope of your, of any literary society and to
live, to exist and not to profit, If but IN the
spare moments awarded to those who have
inherited toll as their birtll-right, by the
wondrous lights of others minds, is to be
come wilful swine and to root up the dense,
opaque earth, wilfully hiding the pearl for
no better reason than II care not"
Human thought has no limit TIM society
is founded upon The idea of seeking out the
thought OF others: debating, digesting this
mental food Reflect upon 1t; think Of it :
The source of your supply will to the end of
your days, aye, TO the end Of time (Which by
the way is an impossible conception) will be
augmented use by no means lesseni"g the
supply. Think of it that real logical, sci.
en,itic thought and reasoning as it progresses
gains in weight and worth and that your
privileges as readers and as students will not
be curtailed or lesscned rs you become pos
SCISSORS that though you are enriched, no
one is poorer; that in this diyme, aye, truly
divine possibility, lies the wondrous separa.
ting gulf between the realms of the mental
and physical, or more properly, material
worlds and that it is not prohibited that VIC
shall essay TO cross this gulf, even the weak
est of us.
TO read to study, TO reason to think to
profit by the pure mental exercise of others
this it is that becomes the privilege Of such
as compose this Society and in proportion as
we avail ourselves of our privilege, by Just
so much more is fife worth the living.
fo'additionat tocnks sec End p,1ge.