New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-10

We glorify and almost defy the past as some
thing sacred because we think we know it and
its meaning. while must always remain
ignorant in regard TO the future.
Against both of these assumptions Mr.. Wells
enters a protest AS to the past. memory is
treacherous and history is often little more
than the fiction agreed on. while tradition Is
legend tricked out in the garments of truth.
The only real knowledge of the past is that I'M
folded by science during the last hundred years.
We thus know the habits Of creatures that we
have never SEEN or that do not now exist, while
the archRologist is turning many sober histories
into fantastic fairy tales. And as to the future,
may not the searchlight of inference be en-
ployed there also, so that we shall. come to
have an inductive knowledge of much that is
to be? Prophecy, in fact, is one of the most
useful attributes Of science, as when Adams
and Leverrier asserted the existence of Nep-
tune before it discovered, and so brought
about its discovery. The essential thing about
science is not the collection of facts, but their
analysis. And a perfect analysis of facts, if it
were possible. would give an accurate knOwl-
edge as to their behavior in the future Any
scientific theory, indeed, that does not yield
forecasts is ipso factO unsound, and every dag
nOsis must yield more less complete prog
noSis. Man, of course Is the one disturbing
factor in this inductive process as to the future
and this is so even if we deny his free will
We may go far toward predicting the future Of
the great sum of things or even the future Of
large masses of men, but we never be pre-
cisely sure what we individually shall do or
think at a given moment Our individual future.
however, is of little consequence. The evou-
ton of the universe is unaffected by the mass
Of men, and still less by great men, such as
Cesar and Napoleon. Ultimately the loom of
destiny will weave the pattern appointed for it
in spite of the blindness or Grass purposes of
puny men. They may advance or delay 1t n
few brief moments in the wide stretches of
eternity, but its purpose is writ by the finger Of
the Eternal, and its general character may be
foretoId irrespective of what man may think or
do. We may see and we shall see, more and
more clearly as the years go on. the embryonic
germ of the future in the flower OF the present
and so seeing shall be able TO order our life more
wisely and more in accordance with what is
right and true.
1t is possible to believe that all the past is
but the beginning of a beginning, and that all
that is and has been is but the twilight OF the
dawn. 1t is possible to believe that all that the
human mind has ever accomplished Is but the
dream before the awakening We cannot see,
there is need for to see what this world
will be like when the day has fully come. We
are creatures Of the twilight. But it IS out of
our race and lineage that minds will spring
that Will reach back to in littleness to
know better than We know ourselves. and
that will reach forward fearessly to Compre-
bend this future that defeats our eyes All
this world is heavy with the promise Of greater
things and a day will come one day in the
amending succession Of DAYS when beings be-
ings who are now latent in thoughts and
hidden in our loins shall stand upon this earth
stands upon n footstool and shall laugh
and reach out their hands amidst the stars.