New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-18
no TRESPASSTNG.

The topics settled TO their own satisfaction
by magazine writer's journalists and pamph-
letters are almost as numerous as the dehaters.
Elatdwelling spinSters write authortatively
on Fifth avenue etiquette; ministers issue ult-
matums on current plays. operas and railway
reform; prizefghters suggest revlsions OF papal
DEGREES. and high school students enlighten the
magazine reading public about the flaws in the
federal Constitution. Every layman nowadays
feels impelled tOsbe an expert on something
But there is one specially which IS common
property, and the man who denies expert
knowledge of it runs the risk OF being laughed
at This speciality is the soul problem. We see
its attractiveness demonstrated again by the
serious treatment accorded TO the socalled soul
weighing experiments of certain New England
physicians. In addition to those who have
made merry over the discovery" there have
been many more who have found in il an OCca-
sion for airing their theories about souls
There is some excuse for the scribbling Of
these soul specialists. II is natural and proper
for a man 10 concern himself about the region
bounded by his own skin. II is profitable
field Of research, almost every feature in II in
fuencing cnes comfort and weekly bills Then
again. every man believes that he has inside
information on the nature Of his own soul lie
knows his own feelings and thoughts better
from this that he holds the key 10 the pro-
foundest of all mysteries If you do not believe
that he can talk with calm assurance as a soul
specialist, listen n moment 10 some recent re-
marks
One commentator says that IF the soul has
weight ii must be a material object for only
mundane things have weight. Therefore. If the
soul has weight it ceases 10 be immaterial and
can no longer be a soul This writer has cyl
IDENTIFY some inside information about the stufr
that dreams made of. though no great re.
ligous teacher or philosopher has ever been
able 10 discover anything about II. Even the
Simple Simon who believes IN ghosts is con-
WINGED that they material beings, for they
all emit light rays enough 10 be visible at least
in the cleaning.
Again, we hear n soul specialist declaring
that immortality could not exist without an
mmaterial soul 10 which to attach ITSELF
Yet the same writer insists that matter is inde-
structibie and immortal Another sDecialist
makes the soul the moral quality of the mind"
hence a thing without weight This genius Sc
riously thinks that the poetic meaning of the
word soul is the to be used i'm scientific
discussions. still another polcmfst manages 70
accuse the doctors Of denying the existence Of
souls, In sRite OF the fact that reports made
them soul Weighers. He then uses good OF
H"Ih!hb+ III SdNlIl tudL II there SOILS
the very idea of a soul could never have arisen
because there is nothing in the world which
could have even remotely suggested such
fancy. This writer probably scorns TO road
book on anthropology in which primitive races
are clearly shown 10 use the word soul" as
description of person or thing seen in
dream. Finally. we are impressed hy the Ioci,
Of the man who declares that unless the de-
structibility of the soul eau be proved. its i'm
mortality is guaranteed. Shades of the syllo-
gism
None of the above comments are ouoted from
Dowie's Leaves Of Healing" or from any
pamphlet OF the Mormons, Holy Jumpers. Fly
Ing Rollers or other favored sect. They are ALI
remarks written in deadly earnest by serious
minded persons and published by reputable sec
ular periodicals There is a curious rule of
human knowledge which might be dubbed the
Law of Middle Distances 1t is that princinla
by virtue of which men best understand those
things which are neither very far away MOI.
very near to the middle of their heads The
uniYerses beyond the Milky Way are no more
invisible than the nameless structures within
ourselves which are too near to be viewed Roth
near ard far can be investigated but only with
the greatest difficulty. Fine instruments. long
training, patience and vast fund of collateral
knowledge must combine for success Tom
DICK ana Harry should not pose as SPECIALISTS