The Washington times., 1901-07-23

years; about half of its leaders would
have been lost to humanity. 1t may
he argued that Napoleon, Caesar, and
other great men who were weak in
childhood would then have been as
strong and healthy as others, because
they would have inherited good consti-
tutions: but nobody can tell about that
Great genius seems often to sap the VI
tality of the possessor, and the very
sensitiveness of his nature renders him
mere liable to evil and good influences
alike. 1t would not be safe to say
either that weakness is always neces-
sary accompaniment of genius or that
it is never SUCH a consequence Posi-
bly,. in some cases, if the man of genius
had been strong and healthy, he would
have devoted himself to the ordinary
occupations of his fellows, and the
world would have lost great writer or
statesman. 1t sometimes happens that
uncommon abilities are developed by
the necessity for them. The boy who is
physically weak must think and con-
trive. if he would be a power in his
world.
The gain which comes from the intel
lectual ability of persons physically
weak. therefore, cannot be overlooked
in making up the sum of nations
strength. Moreover. civilization has
not by any means reached the limit of
its possibilities in the preservation and
Improvement OF health. U1sanitary
conditions create disease, although, by
some such process of evolution as has
taken place in China, they may also de-
velop the power of surviving it. If one
computes the amount of time and ener-
gy lost through illness, in any one COM
munity, it will be easy to see what an
increase in the prosperity of that COM
munity there would be could this factor
be eliminated. Most of the ailments
from which mankind is now suffering
are the product of unhealthy conditions
in the past. Physical delicacy is not
necessarily positive disease. If we
could by improvements in sanitary
science get rid of actual epidemics and
hereditary disease taints, it might theIL
be found that a race of sturdy. strong
people would be developed, with all the
sensitiveness and intellectual vigor of
the civilized man, together with the
physical vigor of the savage. Some
such results have actually been reached
here and there among mountain races
isolated, but not wholly cut off from
civilization. Such races have given the
world some of it's greatest men. 1t is
notable also that the great man usually
comes from the country-that is, ne Is
the product of conditions in which the
free life of the natural man was mold
ed to some extent by the Influences, but
not the vices. of civilization. The
American owes the best part of his
progress to just this state Of things.
We have been for a hundred years
largely a village peopIe-living in small
communities the inhabitants of which
were yet in touch with the life of the
cities. and striving for more intelligence
and culture than they possessed. If the
American people can make use of the
discoveries and guidance of scientific
thinkers. not to cure disease so much as
to prevent it, and at the same time,
through the development of pure moral
standards, keep clear of the vices which
sap tie life of a race, we may yet lave
the good of civilization without its evil
Otherwise we shall go the way of old
Rome