The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-03
for to De .ca,n'11s
BY Dr.. jaime. Benton.

1T SOMETIMES is profitable TO TOOK
~ backward. Experience is teacher.
and when it fails the fault lies with
T the pupil. All our wonderful me-
chanfcal inventions. the whole or IN
part, are Lhe result of experience. Our
customs are evolved out of the experiences
of our ancestors. and the laws of to-day
find their origin in the conditions OF yes
terday. But when we look backward to
survey the experiences Of those who pre-
coded US we are not often inclined to LOOK
back far enough. We limit view too
often to the records of our own race or
our own civilization; why noe extend II to
the civilizations that preceded OURS?
The reaso is that when VIE follow back
the history of this Old earth We are com
PEELED to realize a condition To Whlcn we
are Inherently opposed. Fhe', CONDITION Is
total extinction. We observe civilizations
have pa ssed away like "a scroll, and even
the sites they occupied Have changed be-
'yond recognition. Facing as we do the
future. we close our eyes TO the past, ana
vet to properly face the future and es-
cape the humiliation that o"ercame past
civilization We should open WIDE our
eyes to all assailing conditions.
Although we admit that much that was
once human knowledge has been lost and
forms no part of the vast store possessed
by this civilization. we feel ourselves so
tremendously superior to all who have
possessed Intelligence, and Yet passed
away without trace, that we face, ths
future with unbounded confidence. We
have done much to improve the condition
of man and much to relieve him of the
hardships in gaining the sustenance of
life: we have done much to make the
earth fruitful by cultivation and to yield
to common market its widely diversi--
fed products; but we have not accom-
pfiShed much to insure the whole race
from annihilation.
Civilizations fell. They were not all
destroyed by wars. by famine. by floods
and fire. They decayed. Lost their pow
of resistance We're overcome by those
more fit TO survive. When the vtrility of
people passes away the people pass and
the civilization they reared. a the yitals
destroyer.
To-day the energy OF this people is di--
rected in the conquest of things of earth
Mind seeks to dominate matter. Iron,
copper gold. coal is taken from the mine
and conveyed 20 the use Of man; knowl-
edge is acquired TO assist in the means
of adding to the StOrehouSe the wealth of
the world and in adapting people to the
of the earth yield. But the great
question for this civilization is the best
means to be adopted for. the preservation
Of the race How to be immune from
the diseases that war against the health
and viriiity of the people.
Scientists find that insanity and con
sumption were not known 10 barbarous
people: indeed, SaVaEes We're generally
found to be free from disease Disease
follows in the wake of civilizations and
finally destroys them.
Insanity and consumption are at war
with the present civilization. In spite of
buasted science. each Is on the IN
crease. They must be checked or this
great civiliza ton. the marvel - our own
times will pass away. and in time the
desert will reclaim the fruitful field, and
the populous site of our good cities. The
war is on. the battle will pr'.noullce the
victory to the survivor. Will it be in
sanity. and consumption versus civiitza-
ton? What WIZ make The Ansi o. sax on
civilization immune