Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-18

The question l put to myself he
continued, was how these things were
to be fonnd, and, in order to answer it,
| found the further puzzle before me
how were they LOST
'Ah, how?" l said. 1t seemed a puZZ-
Ter Some one way, | suppose, and
some another"
NO" he broke in sharply. ."All in one
way. The solution is absurdly simple. 1t
is our senses-our consciousness as
whole-which gives to objects their quail
ty of being material. 4 thing is mater
ial because we touch it, smell it. see it.
That's the a b c of philosophy
''Of course l agreed.
when Il thing is no longer affected by
the consciousness of anybody, it ceases
to be material That's how things are
lost. BY and by, perhaps, you remember
the thing again, but the link is broken
| the mediation as | term it, is absent
or inadequate-and you can't materialize
the penknife, or whatever it is. You
have to go out and buy another. The
reason is | have been compelled to as
sumo, that you are unable to recall
strongly or accurately enough the idea
of the thing you are seeking. | use the
word idea in the Platonic sense"
quite so, quite So I said.
: You see now-indeed, it must be OBJ
vious to you at once-how things are
lost, and why, when lost, they are in
numbering the surface of the earth. In
order to appear again they have to be
materialized., and in order to be mater
ialized some form of mediation must be
t,l,1 Itch hot ytnn thing
That was what | had to find out, and |
Think he added, he proceeded to
some covered object at the other end of
the room-'I think that l have found it.
With a trembling hand he removed the
cover and disclosed a most curious-look-
ing instrument. OF its component parts
], not being a scientific man, can give
no accurate description / can only say
that on the top was a rather large crys-
tai ball. and beneath a strange, clock
like instrument. At the side was fun
mel pointing downward and widening as
It did so, while large wicker basket
stood beneath.
"One moment, said the great discov-
erer. as he detached from the clock-like
instrument a tiny spring and inserted in
its place another, so far as | could Judge.
exactly like it.
"Ah That will do" he said at length
and then addressed me in voice quiv-
ering with emotion. You, my friend.
shall be the first to make trial of the
greatest, the most stupendous discovery
of this or any other age Advance and
look into the crystal
/ did so.
'"rhe hitherto tried functions of the
crystal are. I imagine. familiar to you"
he said. ain it one observes persons and
things one has every reason to believe
are far away. I wish you to make
more active use of it's powers. Gaze fix
edly. at the crystal and picture to your
self any object you know to have been
lostAThe pearls from Queen Elizabeth's
state dress, the Chamberlain telegram.
any thing. Something you have lost your
self for instance" | did so. and in
few seconds there l saw it lying in the
crystal--my lost umbrella. just as I had
last seen it, badly rolled up and rather
muddy, but resplendent with it's knob of
gold.
TT should be enough said the pro-
fessor, drawing me from the crystal and
gazing eagerly into the wicker basket.
When he lifted his face again it showed
signs of bitter disappointment
There is nothing there he said.
Lets look in the umbrella stand" I
ventured to suggest.
For a moment he hesitated. He gave
look of protest. a motion as though
to prevent me, but my scientific ardor
carried me to the door.
There it was in the umbrella stand,
back from the world of ideas, re-mater-
| ialiZed. slightly damp from the process.
grasped it and turned to shake the
professor warmly by the hand.
I'VE live in the age of science / ex-
| claimed.
Canada has twenty nine banks, with
about two thousand branches. They
are practically controlled by the Bank
/ ers' Association, a legaliZed institution