The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-05-31
Nae,erunck On the N,st~rics.

A good many Interrogation marks viii
n. found In the FIVE philosophical es~ays
grouped under the title - Tho Burici
Temple Nv Maurice Mae'erlinck- trans
lated bv Alfred Sutro ODodd. Mead 4 Cos
They have The right 70 he there. FOR It j.
.,il true that tho GAUGES ~ the universe
are 10 b> approached induirinslv
In an Introduction Mr.. Edward VI Collie
say. that thu. hook shows in great measure
tie ~ fu-nce - Hellenic mysticism. The
idea. advanced hore concerning justice,
hat u !. absent 81 not d~iacern!ble in the
lsv. ~ the material universe and that tho
home ~ il il IA. human heart. ars not new.
NJ. Mseter.inck does not strive after the
novel Mr.. Collie tells w. -hut rather 20
emphasize imp~rishshle truths th,t ave
becn found ever helpful and necessary.
His fundamental theme. the mystery %
Justice. after the manner Of al. mystical
teachers. he imrress-s nv constant rcpe-
titiou and reiterstion through this. series
Of essays. Iii. method IL that - the organ
i.t improvising upon his them. and con-
s,artly placing II in din~reu, settings. and
now and then merely suggesting " toy 'hs
fundamental chord or its simple motif
He i. no, mystical with the Hellenic my.-
OClen hlbIe hr WNNNl'ANln " ilbfl"Tn
and c~clectic. drawing its el-m-nts from The
thoughts % tho Oriental, Hellenic and
Christian mystics.
IN. cssays deal. then. with mysteries.
md the manner Of them IL mystical. They
are entitled .~versily, Tho Mystery -
Justice" The Evolution Of Mystery
The Kingdom Of Matter Tho Past
and Luck In tho esssy on The Past
We read: Tho past {. past we say, and
it is false. the past !. always present. We
hive 20 b~ar tho burien % our past. va
SIGH, and Il i false; the pa,, boars our bur
den: Nothing can Wye out tho past, and
n IL false: tho Least effort ~ will sends
prc.en, and future travelling over the past.
10 or,c, whatever No I'D them efnCe. Ihs
inde.tri-ible. irrrparable- ~imfnutable past,
and that /. no truor than tho rest ~
,hen the past IL present and Ia not pas.
and vet IL mny he past and need NOT he
present. since we nav. tho power To dis
t~n.s with ~. THIS seoms 10 be designed
10 be encouraging
In the cs.av on luck we read naturally
about tho triba ~ the unlueky. They
nre.- NJ. Nseterlinrk tells w., -the most
unfortunate race 81 cur race. When the
re., all Nv. they alone remain In their places.
When other. retreat, they advance boldly.
They infalliblv travel by the train that shall
leave the rails. they pas underneath the
tower at the exact moment ~ its collapse.
they enter The house IN which the fire -
smould.ring. ross tho forest on which
lightning shall fall, intrust all they have 10
the banker who n'ln. "a sbscnnd. They
Low. Ga. one woman on earth whom thoy
should have avoided. they make the gesture
they should not nayc made, they do the
Thing they should not have done. But
when fortune To- kons and IN" Others ~"
fastening, urged hv tho deep voice uf
t.ncvusn' rovrr-, th"y pass by. not hear
ing; and, vouch.afed No advice or warning
hu, ,h,, ~ their intellect, h verv vie"
old ruid. who-c purhlind cye- see only
the tiny paths AZ the foot 81 the mouEtnir.
they e. n.,ray IN = world that human reason
La, no, VI, Understood
Their compliant, which 81 course thev
viii make. m,-, 10 ~ sonr"thing within
and no, 80 something Without They lack
lbs mt.rua monitor and guide that us sup