The times., 1897-11-14
t1U[!11z!@lt't.tl|I1(l[l . t't.l|I1 !
a Theorv nr Hnnninese.

a Theory or Happiness.
The desire Of happiness is the cousum-
Ing passion 81 he 50 the recipe for naii-
pines. is the most valuable thing IN the
world. T. is also the rarest The philoso-
ptser who has it has message To disciples
who Win spring up plentiful In proporllua
az tEsy can Toe convinced THAI an nlaiiiDlc
prescription can be given. Happiness" j.
the ailuring theme 81 the second menfi-
culture hook of horace Fletcher, HIS
pauacea FOR unharpihess is found in fore
taoegit minus fearIhought'' a Location.
containing tie essence of his theory Of
thinking and living
Whatever may he The readers interest
IN Horace Fletcher, after he has read the
introduction ie is left Ia no doubt of
what The author Anticipated it might be.
lie has not given a Chance 10 ozc0Biplain oi
self-obIiteration, and his selfish discourse
rams with llotid iIuency which suggests
that he is a powerful stimuIant to his
OWE pen. He gives Us no opportunity
10 discover that he is an experienced
cosmopolitan, Il whCm intimacy with all
the aspects OF life has given a hiek ar'l
cath-,iic comprehension thereof, its aimsand
means TIE r. sder is ,arefully infGrnIed
81 il IN the preamble, so Iliar the deduction
1h later pages has no chance 10 come with
t.'c freshness OF q new-fourd fact.
Mr. Fletcher believes that in civilized
lire there j. everything To encourage, and
there should tie nothing 10 prevent, nappi-
ness. his primal proposition Sifts 10 this,
that the most conspicuous ObstHCIe TO hap
niHess is fesT The key t. The desirable
state is the banishmeut of the animal emo
tian By the inverse OF this negative pre-
usltiyu, courage is the highroad 90 perfect
hfe
On this basis he offers modern hut not 2
new philosophy f human action There is
3 large class OF Christians, either attached
10 orthodox churches or independently the
istic. who VIII fine in Mr Tleich
discourS-s not suggestion OF new ideas,
but Confirmation OF what they have al
ready accepted. Their Iallying cry is
Goo j love and they argue from the
infinity Of Bis love the exclusion OF &C
casiun fJr fear. Thence from consequent
peace Tie chain Of premises 10 the cCnciu-
sion in ia apDiness is evident MI Fletcher
brings 10 the argument OF the doctrine Of
courage an expusitcry style denoting
welI-ordered mind, comprehending his
whom the suggestion is new thetreatmenu
Will be fulIO interest and VIII impress them
fUrcibly. Those who havealready benttheir
minds in this course viii accept the new
discussion Of their theories with the en-
thHsiasm Of complete sympathy
Fear. he finds, is the great human shack;e,
] his finds Crysiallized expression II weak
ha bit OF thought. -Happinessis notdepend
Eerily bring happiness hut both are De
pendent on gOod habi,-nl-thogFht; for good
d. i,it Of thought develops appreciat ion,
wl.ch is The mea sure Of all wealth. and
q appreciation leads 10 the hai -Uf-tr-elmg
ana tie haBit-of acti0n. which produces
happiness - There is the recipe Tor f,,i-
ness, a. found m forethcucht r.inus fear
thought the last word being a cCiu aee of
tie authors. II it does not impress YOU as
sui iicientiy conclusive IL syllopiStic form,
tie whole volume is an elaboration OF 1t
arc IL outlying suggestions.
We cannot hut admire Mr.. Fletcher's
y baus ~ procedure. BE is Scrupulou,ly
if-ih1oical. Passing over lie ai4g.-ing
mote az egOuSu IN the introduction, we
fiaI leic the presentation Of his theory.
Before proceeding 10 argument he clears
the path Of unnecessary obstacles 10
perfectly harmonious understanding of
tht fundamentals. There is staienie,t
Of self-cvident propositions on the condi
ton and relation of man. Then he aro-
Cec,is o. definition Of terms Finally,
DE- iauHollcs into the argument Of Ills Trin-
ciple
iii~ foreti.o3=bt Oh this piece OF phi
I0sophy has been profound, and lt must Aa -s
been extensive effectively and in poilt
oftme lie seizes the vholeness or the sub
9egJ with a comprel.cnsivenes which is
a anazI as d. is Convincing, and ne has
The faculty % enunciating premises ana
deductions w.tL triD-tdnmer effect The
page arc built Of pHhy bits, which have
tie truthfaI consistency Of steel and the
weight o. volumes Of al gllnent
4 few quot tons VIII show the unvarying
Of bisst yle as well asdemof.straI
the direction Of his argument:
The object Of Iife is growth. Harmony is
tire condition favorable and necessary to
growth. Harmony Is the normal CONDITION
OF nature. 5 proven by the unfailing and
lu5iIediate response Oi growth to its in
lluenCe. II aTmunlc conditions are created
by the removal Of deueuenls 10 CROWN.
Mind is the first essential Ia tie growth OF
uau.
lasiug placed the attainment Of the ideal
IA the mind, he proceeds 10
show how fear is the impeding and de-
factor il idealiza ton. Fear is
inhe 'eEtly an antecedent, and as it is a
mental coEditi0n, be coins the world fear
tEeuglJ To express d IN action. His ana lysis
Of teaI thought is given in the same tcrse,
oa-elit ujction that gives conviction to lis
otEer pages
Fear is fear-thUught only Fear is caused
by the sell l-iUpOSed and self permitted sug-
SestlOu Of infeTiCFity Fear-thaught is
therefore unnecessary. Anger and worry
are expressions Of fear-thought They are
caused 10y IearGhUught, and hence all the !
evil pa SSlOnS which grOupthemSelveS under
The class names OF anger and worry are
therefore the result of fear-thcught Fear
Thought istne result Oi eeOtlsm. ECOtism is
the reverse or rather perverSe-Of egoCia-
ton. ltlscauSed by f-Separ8tiUnfrOm Co
operative strength from universal good,
from God. SeifiShneSs is the fruit and the
evidence OF egOtlsn. Fear-thOught is
the llrSu expression Of selflShness Fear
thought is therefore, the tap-rCot Of evi
snd consequent unhappinesS.
Ia the appendices are TWO Interesting pa
Ders one by Dr. William II. HoIcon!b on
Tile Influence OF Fearin Disease" ana the |
other b. George Kennan on his: A pprenfice- |
slip IN Courage" sClncago: II. :. Stone
j Co Washington: Brentano. ST.
~Marchesi and AIusic.''