New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-24
i" VITAL QUESTIONS"
Essays ON Health, Education and
Success by DR.. Chaplin.


President Roosevelt emphasized the fact that ths
physician occupies dual position IN ths CON-
munity.
'"The doctor" he said. has the one hand 70
be the most thoroughly educated IN applied
science that there is in the country. and OF. ths
other hand he becomes the closest friend 70
more different people than would be possible n
any other profession"
Starting out with something OF the sans assunr-
tion-that the physician comes IN closer touch
through his profession with men and life than any
other class OF thinkers or workers. DR.. Henry
Dwight Chaplin has collected under the title vital
Questions" CThomas Y. Crowell & Co. Nsw-Yor1J.
a series of essays some OF the more pressing OF
modern problems.
I'VE are instructed in the simple wen IA ths
strenuous IIfe" writes DR.. Chaplin IN his -apolora@
Both messages are desirable, but II we can lay
more stress upon the thoughtful life we VIII b apt
to include the segments Of truth thus admirably
brought out" And further on he says: This CON-
pexity Of question Is proof that II IS Incapable
OF solution even If the efforts IN this direction
largely tentative"
It IS then In this spirit OF courage and hope that
Dr. Chaplin addresses himself TO Of ths vital
questions" OF society and the individual choosing
some Of those which for the most frequent
answer and doubt, such as THE Unit" ''Tns
Child" Health" Education" Success" RS
Igion" and Death" And his underlying eortsa-
ton throughout is summed in the following san
fences: Every problem must find It's sanest solu-
ton in a study the laws OF individual and social
health and the ability to live according 20 the t&s
is the first condition Of vigorous existeuca A
healthy society must have. as a Drerequisiea a
healthy body of units to compose IT,"
In his opening chapter Inequality, Ghs ouss-
ton of Opportunity issue IS taken sharply with
those reformers who fercely attack the present
social system as the real CAUSE Of misery. So
ciaI conditions, according to the author. faro
principally the resultants OF individual chsFac-
teristics Of which they are but the aggregate
As long these remain unchanged society may
be repeatedly disintegrated, but the cams abuses
will as regularly spring up. Those who ers de-
handing more social equality must first zee 70
It that there is moro individual equality. Il IS
a favorite corroIlary Of political system that
all men are born equal Unfortunately, legal
equality is not physiological equality In fact.
there is no such thing equality. Much Of the
restlessness OF the age IS the endeavor 70 inst-
tute formulas and laws OF equality. while no
real equality exists.
Modern industrial civilization is adapted 20 make
the sharp sharper and the dull duller. which is
only another way OF saying concentration OF
wealth and diffusion Of poverty, the author con-
tinues. The best way to atone for these In
CAPABILITIES Is not by division OF wealth and aims
giving but by strengthening the weak for
more successful effort Giving TO charities Is
esteemed generous; It IS a truer generosity for
the keen man of affairs not 70 ruinOusly under
sell his less acute neighbor and thus perhaps
force him TO depend on charity As for the lazy.
I
looked upon as an inevitable byproduct OF mod
ern civilization, the outcome Of laws that Il IS
the duty of social science to discover and obVate.
instead of INDUCING in idle moralizing-
One OF the most unfortunate factors IN the
social question the author considers to be the
fact that the poorest and often the physically
united classes are usually the most prolific,
for which they sometimes receive needless and
consideration of race suicide. the discussion OF
which has been more in the line OF sentiment
than IF
THE worst form OF race suicide consists IN
bringing children into the world who cannot Be
properly matured, trained or educated. ana
whose neglected bodies simply serve 70 increase
enormously the sum total OF human sllIerlns ana
run up the death rate. II seems as II EaGe ho11i-
eide would be a better term to apply to tEis COL
Nor has the author any greater patience with
the various forms OF mental treatment ta sLe 49,. -
favor to-day for the cure Of diseases. Under ire
chapter of Health: The Question OF NlsoL -
author has this to say Of certain poP1~E -0'IN
OF ali the systems Of mental healing the So
called Christian Science IS most dangerous 10 Jhs
foIIos from the ACTIVITY OF its propaganda and
from the fact that its devOtees do not hesitate 70
treat contagious diseases and otheE L0J hIs T.
fourtshes witnesses needless death and disability
due lack of scientific treatment; ne men! men.
composure that some nervous ana lIna sI I-'
people seem to derive from such faith Is deary
bought. similar cOmposure- as Wei as ceI H..
Indian fakirs in the same manner as by TINS So
Galle9 IFs1a seT1; POI oI,fst m exctaon The
ultimate effect is as unfortunate on character aS
"A cult that spends its energy If developing
beautiful thoughts, but Is correspondence scanty
in good acts, very helpful in the real
troubles Of the world. II lodges the actual prop
lens, diseases and tragedies OF life by denying le
existence. One does not know which 10 consiQeI
greatest, the laziness the efrontery OF ms
method. While the true apostles OF the world are
wearing their lives in the hard CrooleIns ana
labors OF the day, in patience and frequent dis-
couragement, these airy SOphlstS are STRIVING 20
remain happy by living in fools paradise. No
serious real question has ever been touched
cheerful and courageous frame OF mind shouI1
always be cultivated, and undoubtedly exercises
good effect upon the bodily health. but in the long
both mental and physical vigor can only come
from recognizing the real evils OF LIE and doing
the best to nationally overcome them .
OF death about which. a physician. he should
speak with authority. DR. Chaplin writes COMFORT
ingly In the great majority OF cases he SAYS.
there IS little or pain in dylnE, the sensioiNJy
Of the brain and nervous system having been grac-
acid gas some time before the death rattle begins
ION the mental and moral side, death IS very
rarely resented by the dying says Dr. Chapin.
1T is oTtener welcomed than resisted In spite OF
the natural Clinging TO life The dying uSiaAy
seem TO accept the inevitable with Calm1ess or
even satisfaction. Whether this is apathy
caused largely by physical exhaustion or due 20
faith in a happy hereafter. is known only 70 me
Individual AS a rule. however, the worst repro
bate seems 10 have little fear as the greatest
saint
Lack OF space forbids more than a references 70
Or. Chapin's valuable remarks such subjects s.
the conservation Of physical strength the cGItsl
ing OF school vacations. competition. the AiSEss
education Of women. the causes of poverty A-'
other important topics
MRS. CAROLINE PINTO HUBBELL DEAD.