New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-18
DREAuERS OF DREAMS.

The philosophers are always ti!i"S " e"PN"'
the knotty problems Of civillzauoh ana t"ey
would probably succeed in doing 20 II some one
could be found who able to explain the
philosophers But there is no hope Of that, and.
therefore civilization continues - be Jun or
lark enigmas that not even Macaulays scnooi-
how coud solve We have no intention mere OF
discussing much less trying to solve any OF the
greater problems Of civilization when nave
risen TO the dignity Of Questions OF the age. we
all know what these questions are. ana II the
truth must be confessed. many or US are just
1,tt,a wearv of thenl-no not weary OF them, but
Of the way in which they discussed TO death
by so many earnest yet prosy thinkers
Everybody believes In progress. and everybody
believes also that the unsolved questions WHICH
stand In the way Of progress Will ma an orderly
and natural solution in the unfolding OF TIME
and events. There are many writer's ana 'n'ih-
ers to-day who are doing much TO point the way
~ such a solution There also some solemn
bores and dreamers who seize every chance III
,he rnagazines and on the platform to discuss
some problem which they don't clearly see ana
emit views" which no one else cares to hear
They are generally pessmsts who think Ill OF
ne,rlv everybody except Themselves. and assume
that the world Is rapidly plungng TO wreck ana
min In their opinion there Is always an I'M
n.ndins crisis" the direful consequences or
which can only be averted by the Immediate ac-
ceptance OF their "views": but they are too nrm-
" convinced Of the general asinlnity OF the
world 10 believe FOR moment that their views
wm nrovau In fact they take mournful
pleasure in playing the role Of Cassandra' ana the
knowledge that they are regarded as crahhS
gives them the nearest approach to happiness
they are capable Of feeling For II they were
recognized as the heayen-sent leaders ana seeis
they know themselves 10 be. X would prove thai
the world IS not silly as they say Il IS. Il
might even 60 ahead and solve their iaNoFlle
Problem and then where would they be? Better
far a mad and stupid world than that these
weeping Jercm.ahs should lose their self-ap-
pointed task u flashing its follles. or showing now
Il might be saved.
In her customary breezy way, Mrs l.. Lynn
Linton recently drew graphic picture Of these
.'yiewy folk" as she calls them. But even Mrs
Linton In the ample space OF magazine article
cannot do the subject full justice. AS she we'll
observes people with views are the despair OF
reason; for their Views based on self-con-
"ditioned reazations independent Of evidence
land Incapable u proof" one may cut them
with the sword %: common SENSE, but, Ike
cloud. they reun;e. and when they appear 10 be
destroyed ID and behold. they are as lively as
ever II science declares that the world Is
men who passionately deny H. There Is. In fact
Journal published in Hot Springs. : ID, called
The square World" whose sole mission II Is
10 maintain that the world Is square and sta
tlonary. Intelligent people not only read it, but
write letters ID its editor telling him how un-
answerable are his arguments. lie Is much
couraged thereby. and is certain that his views,
II adopted would solve every vexing problem OF
| the age.
Time would fail, however. 10 tell OF all the
bizarre views In religion, in science. IN literature
In politics and IN social economy. that defy
reason. refute common sense. and take no ac-
count Of the experience Of mankind. but which
nevertheless are accepted by multitudes Of good
men and women with a zeal and enthusiasm
that are at once pathetic and ludicrous. AZ
Mrs. Linton puts IT, many Of these viewy folk
play false cards all through the game. Not
from malice prepensa but from the belief they
have that hearts, not diamonds trumps.
and that queens take aces They are always
hunting after mares nests. and finding what
they look for. with them phoenixes are as
common az barndoor fowl. and they believe in
the future when men shall grow wings beneath
their shoulders and fly through the air like
"hlrsute angels a journey. Nothing Is too
"impracticabls for their faith to accept. nothing
too strange for their future to see realized"
In the mean while the old world moves slowly
along the spiral path OF progress solv-
ess the dreamers desire, but inch by inch
describing the outworn DID, and asslmilating the
new. that there is never moment In its his
tory when both old and do not appear to
be one great integral whole