The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-18
DARK AGES AHEAD.
Society Warned that Civilization May
BE Soon Obscured.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
DR.. Benjamin Andrews. former president
OF Brown University, now Chancellor of the
University of Nebraska, yesterday sounded
a warning that civilization may be at the
beginning OF a return to the darkness of
the middle ages.
Delta Epsilon fraternity heard with breath
less interest a remarkable discussion of the
social tendencies Of the day that was pre-
faced thus:
Il am not to be classed among the pessi-
mists. l am, In fact an optimist, but
do not believe In ostrich optimism. and
when one finds reefs coming to the surface
in the track or the worlds spiritual COM
merce he is none the less an optimist to try
and chart the seas where they lie.
Suppose certain penumbra be described
upon culture In our day, ii is not the first
instance. Even more than civilization in
general, the especial phase thereof called
culture has had its ups and downs The
lowed not indeed by darkness hut by many
a far stretch of chiarascuro before full
days shone again. Maecenas would have
scoffed had a prophet told him that there
were TO succeed his Augustan time whole
centuries during which hardly a scholar
in Europe would be able TO read Homer
or Plato, and when even Virgil would be
known TO but few. Yet such centuries
came.
After Athens and after Rome. when old
time culture had installed its whole grand
exhibit and done its utmost to improve
mems minds and hearts and lives NOT
withstancing all, mental twilight fell upon
European society. stayed long set griev-
ously and was frightened out into noon
again only by centuries of painful toll ar
light making. Such a reflection brings
heartening along with soberness Tena-
cious as medieval gloom was IL did at
last give way. The sources of culture gush
perennially. If those previous checks upon
their flow were temporary, any future sub
Sidence will be the more certain because
OF books and schools, Observation-Disclosures
once feeble but now and always henceforth
invincible.
81 am impressed that a certain obscura
ton of real culture is at this moment OBJ
servable among us and that we as yet by
no means see Its worst.
DR.. Andrews declared there was a dis
tinct falling of in the desire to procure
and promote the things OF the mind Much
genuine unselfishness remains said the
speaker, but If a fellow-citizen Is caught
red-hanGed in doing act of considerable
self-denial men cape at him in wonder
plying. however. rather than admiring.
He gave this illustration: Recently, in Chi
cagO. n said TO friend from 81
Louis: See that tall man ahead? That :
Judge Peter s. Grosscup. who, on salary
of $1,000, has just refused an offer OF a
salary of 100000 as attorney for the North
ern Securities Company in its merger suit -
that way. Doesn't insanity run in the
famiy?'
DIR. Williams said that in this age that
Is so rich in invention everything breeds
a fatal uniformity. He added:
Let shallow people laugh at New Eng
land provincialism and vent profanity
against the South for being solid. The wise
rejoice that so much topical apartness sur
wives. Well may each remoter section OF