The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-19
The Altruist.

Altruism II a term which has acquir-
ed in the popular mind forced and
repellant meaning. Our closet philoso-
piers and our diiettante philanthropists
have sickIicd Ger its intrinsic beauty
with the cast Of pragmatic definition
and Individual impertinence. The al
TRUST, according to them. Is person
who missed his true vocation by not
being installed as the creator OF the
universe. He witnesses with strange
inward pangs the perversity of human
ity In general. He knows what each OF
. the complaining millions needs for him
self and what ne should contribute to
others. And the function OF the aitru-
fist, in q world so sadly out OF joint Is
to engage In the bone-setting process.
His life Is devoted 10 others, but only
In the sense OF setting the wheels that
he selects upon the tracks where he
thinks they should run. self-sacrince
consists, for him, In devoting his time
and energies TO adjusting all the rest
OF the world TO cosmic harmonies of his
own invention. He Is the prince OF all
cyclists and the most tiresome.
This pestilent fellow has for the time
being dishonored and thrown into dis
repute an attitude of mind and heart
and form OF activity that are shaping
and moving forces OF the highest pro-
gress He Is an incorrgibie meddler.
You find him posing as the prophet of
every reform. He IL not exercised about
selling all that he has and giving to
the poor. about Investigations in the
bye-ways OF life at the cost of per-
sonai discomfort. but rather In the per-
sonai conduct OF society, whose self
constituted cicercne he becomes. lie Ia
the most Pharisaic Of eounseiors. He
VIII tell you In ,wlnkiing what mall
ady Affects the body social or polite.
what remedies It requires. and what Is
your precise duty in the premises. He
tor she) IL ehiivious 60 individual du~
Tics. contemptuous OF the plate and
common relations and their require
snents, soaring above shop or kitchen
"a the case may be 20 whIsk "a wing
among the nebulae and sweep the star
dust into It's appointed hin.
Tho intolerance % humankind for the
social nuisance Is already reducing this
moral mosquito TO place and order,
Presently the attitude, the frame OF
mind the divine harmony q the soul
OF man with the soul Of the universe
whose royal robes he has stolen and
whose title he rarlolas viii come 70 its
own again. Yer the world 81 real life
- fali Of altrnlsm, which 10 the heaven
OF humanity, The altraist IL 10 every
church. IN evrey political Organization.
IA esery social circle. In every move
mert that rises above the grossly ma
tertal Bat be sticks no feathers on his
shoulders aaa does not cevcs haig,
The slsrulss n he who has achieved
iarxeness % view. catholic sytarathy.
tndofatieahle and ,mperishabls hoge, To
him the weird ana az it cayries ls au
sndlcss web upon The lcom of time. IN
visible are the spinales that carry sc
At sitheF end, bat the pattern grows IN
beauty and majesty a. ,hs unseen
wheels revelye. No thread % gold thA,
weases into the fahrse Is ever lost, bat
runs enalessly untn tine shall cease.
lie looks before and after. and eoneea.
trates al thought al enort, Az aspira-
tlon apoa the ons monient that 10 his
slone Ger good or evil he lives FOR the
things that make Tor righteousness aud
offers himself gladly not to rectlgy tbs
conduct q his neishber In the next
block bat rather so e. shape an human
conduct and the rules 81 Il thar the
world may move one infniteslnial trae.
ton further toward the divine.
he Is an optimlst net for the immedi-
sts moment. but Tor the sarvsx IAa,