The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-14

ton. should at once honor the dstin-
guished Adam Arts with tho authority
to act. This story is vouched for, and
1t breaks the record so far in.
In one OF his syndicate articles recent
ly printed, Professor L. Larkin attempts
to get up scare. or fill space. I am
undecided which. by predicting that the
wrold Is rapidly approaching mental
chaos. lie strings together great many
reasons, and finally concludes his argu-
ment by asking: Suppose each person
in the United States held to belief Diff
fering from all the others. and 1t may
well occasion wonder as to what effect
such chaos would have on our welfare"
do not see why learned man should
attempt to frhgten people by predict
ing such things. It Is true that there
are many men of many minds, but 1t
has been my observation that most all
the people In the world. or, ut least that
part of 1t which I have seen. are pretty
generally agreed upon many things.
They arc for the most part in favor OF
honesty; Of decency: of society: OF home
and property rights-and human love
will never let the world go astray. We
may have some peculiar people--some
people who are eccentric. and some peo-
pic who are storm iconoclasts who would
smash to smithereens all idols and I'LL
ideals-but the great mass OF humanity
is together In 1t arc thinkers cad lead
ers-but tho superstition that each man
would get it into his NOODLE to believe
| something different from tho other man
Mr.. Larkln has not stated a suppos-
| able case.
Professor Iarkin also feels alarmed be-
cause science is unfolding SO many hero
| tofore hidden things, and fears that this
newlight will shake the faith OF people,
| upset their belief In heaven, and after lie.
/ 1t never struck me that way. II science
comes along and clears up some of the
| many mysteries, 1t Is only going to prove
/ that creation is still a greater mystery
and figures from all over tho world show
/ that the Christian religion Is making sat
isfactory progress. and th1s imple faith
Iof all tho years that arc gone is suffl-
cient for a majority of this advanced age.
1t always makes mo weary to hear some
/ learned man who has Just laid down his
lbook spin a yarn about the Nebular Iiypo-
| thesis or the Transmigratlon OF tho Soul,
4 or insist that PythagOras had things py
the back Of the neck 1t Is all right TO
dig end delve and to attempt to fathom
the awful mystery OF life and death. but
WHAT'S the use to waste space and time
ind thought, and after all the worry
arrive ut the starting point which Is Il
don't know"
| a gentleman gave me something re-
freehins the other day. and he was SO en-
thusastic that he wanted to bet omit, And
when you find a man who wants to back
up his proposition with q wager. you can
generally put 1t down that he is In dead
earnest. II no isn't bluffer. MY friend
Insisted that when Commodore Peary is
finally successful, as he knew he would
be, In locating tho North Pole, that he
will also md another continent. He In
sisted that the earth was not round-that
1t was egg-shaped-and that its motion
was entirely different than was supposed.
suggested to him that thought the
mariners compass had settled that ques-
ton long ago, and he wanted to bet me
that his plan would also meet the REQUIRE
ments OF tho compass, and no knew that
Peary would find the POLE
tppTIo argued that ,whnn Columbus wanted