New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-17
ments, in the bill he has ofrered. Inere Is niue
reason to expect that 1t will SATISFY majority
In either house.
THE LIMITS OF KNOWLEDGE.

4. no, Incomes more complex, and its activ-
dts moro numerous. the difficulty OF taking
any large and comprehensive survey OF 1t be-
800. a,ooter and greater. How few there
oro oven Of those who are most intelligent VINO
have ossimilated all the facts OF moderh ci'IF
izotion. not to speak Of understanding i's hiu-
den tendencies. The task Is beyond tue power
of the human mind. When that excellent anu
useful publication, 1.-THE Review OF Reviews
wos first issued II was welcomed by those VINO
had found it impossible to keep abreast WIN
the periodical literature Of the day. but even
this boed-dOwn epitOme OF the perodicais IT.
ouires for its perusal more time thah many
busy men can afford, and there was therefore
point as well as wit in the epigram OF the
nan who said that a review OF The heVie"
of Reviews" was needed. We speak OF DOCKS
being published; but in regard to large num-
Der Of books, perhaps the majority of really
good books, the word is improperly used They
are printed and bound, that Is all. The facts
that they contain remain as completely I'M
known TO the world as though the books had
never been written. Some one fond Of para
dox has said that this Is an age Of ignorance
because 1t Is an age Of Intelligence.
The remark contains n solid kernel OF
truth. An English periodical recently COM
planned that it IS impossible for average
intelligent men TO understand the articles
in scientific journals. because they are
written in a sort Of scientific Jargon'
with which scientists only are familiar. But
even If such articles were written in the most
simple ycrnacuar no one person could read all
Of them Only two courses are open to the
mass of men. They can try to acquire super
fetal knowledge Of all subjects though as
matter Of fact they cannot succeed In doing
even that. Or they can become specialists in
one or two lines Of thought or investigation
Neither one of these courses will produce that
broad culture which ought to be the aim Of
modern education. What Is needed is a COM
prehensive synthess Of all spheres of knowl-
edge which will take into account fundamental
principles rather than n multitude Of isolated
facts But such n synthesis Is not possible
until the race has learned to analyzc the vol
umc Of knowledge now In its possession.
Even more important than a comprehensive
knowledge Of the facts relating to man and the
universe is an understanding Of the tendencies
OF life and progress. Nowhere In the world
to-day can these tendencies be learned Even
if the stage always held the mirror up to
Nature. which is by no means the case, It can
only reflect those aspects of life which can be
seen. 1t does not, and it cannot, give a true
picture Of mans relation TO eternity. The
newspaper Is truly regarded a transcript Of
human life; but its function also is limited
As n chronicle Of the worlds happenings II
holds potent place Of influence in the economy
Of civilization. But because II Is a chronicle Of
things done It IL no part Of its duty TO become
n philosopher or prophet. 1t finds its lcgiti-
mate work, as the composite photograph Of the
moment. enough. and more than enough, TO
occupy all its time. without trying TO present
n complete picture Of the unspoken and unseen
tendencies and ideals Of human life Ii could
not write the history Of the world, as 1t ought
TO be- written when those tendencies and ideals
shnpe themselves into results. And il 1t could
nobody would read It,
What. then. is the conclusion of the whole
matter? Simply this. that the evolution Of
man. like that of Nature. must operate largely
through blind instinct We know only. and
can know only. in part. We are but ~ insects
on great spinning ball, whose relation TO the
unreasonable universe In which il Is poised
must ever battle our most anxious scrutiny
Why man was created. and what is 10 be his
future destiny. are questions that can only be
answered. II answered at all. by a revelation
from on high. In the mean while. to us all the
words ~ New Englands Quaker poet come
with message Of peace and comfort:
know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms In air.
I only know cannot drift
Beyond His love and