The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-05
FACE TO FACE WITH LIFE.
An AIIegOrfcaI Lesson in the Mean
ing of Existence.


ing of Existence.
Translated from the Russian by Max
ime Gorkle.
Two men stood before the stern Wis
age of Life both Disconnected with her
ways.
What do you expect of me?" she
asked
One of them replied in a weary voice;
Il rebel against the cruelty of your
contradictions. My reason remains
pOwerless in its attempts to grasp the
meaning of existence and my soul. be-
fore thee, is filled with the shadows of
doubt. My inmost being tells me that
man is the chief of life's creations, but
nevertheless 1 am unhappy"
"Wherefore?" asked Life without
rancour.
"Happiness-to possess it-you must
reconcile two fundamental contradic-
tions in my soul: My I would with
thy I should.
viii to do that which you ought to
do for me-" said Life sternly.
Il will not be thy victim cried the
man. Il wish to be Life's master and
ann compelled to bend my neck to the
yoke of her laws-why?"
SPEAK more Simply, SdlO the OIn6T
who held himself closer to Life.
But the first continued without heed
ing his cOmrade:
II want freedom to live according to
my desires. / do not wish to be, flcm
the sentiment of duty, of my neighbor,
either brother or serf. / wish TO be
what l would be, freely-whether slave
or brother. l do not wish to be, in So
ciety, stone which society may place
where and how it pleases. 1 am a
man. l am the mind and the reason of
life. ought to be free
Listen to me" replied Life with a
severe smile. You speak much, and
all that you would say | know before
hand. You would be free? Very well,
be so. Wrestle with me, vanquish me,
and become my master, and then |
shall be your slave. You know that
l am Indifferent and always submit
readily to conquerers-bu it is neces-
sary to conquer. Are you capable of
contending with me for liberty? Are
you sufficiently assured of victory and
have you faith in your own strength ?
speak"
The man responded sadly: Thou
hast melted me to a battle with my
self, sharpened my reason like a dag
ger, and it has penetrated deep into
my soul and cut it in twain"
speak with more firmness." inter-
rupted the companion. DO not COM
plain. Tell me, do you demand or beg
for aims when you speak of happi-
ness?"
Il beg, said the man like an echo.
You beg in a loud voice." said Life.
like mendicant with whom begging
has become a habit. But, my poor
man, | must tell you that Life gives no
aims to men, and shall l tell you?
Free, man does not beg, he takes my
gifts-and you, YOU are but the slave
of your desires-nothing more. He only
is free whose heart is strong enough
to renounce all his desires to give him
self wholly to one. Do you understand?
Col"
He understood-and crouched like a
dog at the feet of indifferent Life that
he might leiSurely seize the crumbs
and fragments from her table.
Then Life turned her unclouded
eyes upon the harsh, but good counte-
nance of the other man.
What do you ask?"
Il do not ask; l demand"
"What?"
Where is justice? Give it me. All
things else 1 can myself grasp there
after. For the moment, I must have
justice. | have waited long; l have
waited patiently. living by my labor,
without rest, without light. I have
Waited-but enough 1t is time that 1
should live. Where is jusice?"
And Life responded impassively:
"Take her"