The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-04

Far deeper than any intellectual fac
ulty lay his sympathy! His life as you can
see in THE Making of an American has
been one long stretch of emotional excite
ment The world has played upon his
sensibilities as it does upon the soul Of a
musician, and since his feelings found no
expression in art, they went. off, not, as
with most men Of his temperament, in
weird dissipation, or lay sermons, but in
action..''. Ef 81,
His latest book is. Children OF the Tene-
ments "
Professor Ellie Metchnikoff the author Of
that remarkably interesting book, The
Nature Of Man, has been an Industrious
member of the group of scientists who,
attracted by the great discoveries of Pas
! teur, have devoted themselves to per-
sfstent inquiries into the diseases of hui
mainly to discover defenses against the
intrusive death germs. MetchnikoR had,
for many years previous to his COM
ing to Paris, contributed to the sci
ences Of zoology and bacteriology in
Russia, where he was born. many
/ he shows his fealty to thespostulate as to
the simian origin Of man, and his belief
that when scientific criticism passes judg-
ment, it were folly to dispute it's determi-
nations. He enters minutely into the en-
bryology Of man and the points of con-
the ape and man. He does not, however,
get any further than other scientific writ
! ers? on this subject.
| The professor does not pay much at
tention to the frequent cases where sci
ence, after solemnly uttering a decision,
has been compelled by discoveries which
d1splace the former Judgment, to set it
aside. Within the last quarter Of cen
tury the, claim Of science to infallibility
has been greatly impaired. !,
/ Professor Metchnikoff Is a fascinating
writer on the facts and theories of hi
illogical and archaeological science His
| story Of the discoveries in behalf of suffer-
ing humanity by psychologists, who are
now successfully fighting the intrusive
microbes of disease, Is intensely interest
ing. But his conclusions in behalf Of sci
ence are favored with too much optimistic
enthusiasm. He believes that all the prob
lens Of humanity all the disharmonies oil
humanity, are soluble and removable thru
the application of the exact methods OF
science, without the. aid of religious faith
He offers a. NEW faith. that in the all:
powerfulness of science He declares
that conviction that science alone is able
to redress the dishar1uonies of the human
constitution will lead directly to the i'm:
provement of education and to the solid.
arity of mankind!'' He believes science
will ultimately prolong human life to 12t
years, instead Of 10 or 80, and that it i
possible TO extend 1T further.
! The chapter devoted to a scientific
study Of death deals with a decidedly in
teresting subject, as he attempts to &C
count for the phenomenon outside thu
Bible, which, with the professor, possesse!
no authority. He tells US that man ''is
Kind Of miscarriage Of an ape. endowed
; with. profound intelligence and capable O
great progress and that 'his brain is
seat Of processes that are very complex
and much higher than those Of other ami
mails, but their functions are Incompatible
with the existence Of an immortal SOUL
: A being endowed with profound intelii
/ gence must be endowed by a high intelli
4 gence, higher. indeed, than. itself; but tn.
] scientist does not admit it. At leas
! Metchnikof declares that death bring.
absolute extinction He calls this the op
timistic view. The duty Of science, 9Th,
all-powerfuP' is to transform the dishar
monies Of human nature into harm onies,'
] and the task can only be undertaken b,
science, and, according to the scientific
prescription, young people should spent
their time seriously preparing for "physi
illogical old age and natural death. -
Professor Metchnikoff's book, however
is fascinating reading. IT. Is briminin,
with "the fairy tales of science an,
packed with mingled fact and theory