New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1910-07-06

Accepting the definition of life, that
it is "a continuous adjustment of
internal relations to external rela-
tons we get a good description
that is comprehensive, if not explana-
tory. 1t is good description of
what goes on in all the forms of life
we know. But as to what the ssthing
ITSELF IS, we say not. It is merely
stating characteristics by which we
may recognize life.
Manifestations called life are a
matter of vital organization. With
our undeveloped and imperfect equip
ment for analyzing the element called
life we are compelled to stop at full
application. And it may be that this
will always be so.
We perceive low and simple forms
of life, which learned men call by
various names. From whence and
whittier are these, no rational mind
now pretends to say. And it likely
will remain an eternal question.
Scientists descant wisely about the
processes at work bringing matter
from the inorganic to the organic
from the inanimate to the animate
most of them stopping short Of
origins in their explanations.
Theologists take a shortcut and
settle all totheir own satisfaction by
simply assuming theory that there
is a being known to them, a creator.
who sets aside natural law and who
did make something out of nothing
creation.
And there is much in both of these
views that seems plausible, sational
and true also that which is anything
but rational or true.
It is not the purpose of this paper
to set forth claims of what is known
about this inscrutable form of motion.
But to make palmer how little we
really know about this manifestation
called Life.
Human life is to US of most interest,
and innumerable specuiations regard
ing it are made-many as tho all was
known and settled. Interesting are
the variant guesses and the boldest
transcendentalists are no more ex-
travagant in their claims than the
MISUNDERSTANDING man of Science.
What is known as Man, is the most
developed form of life of which we
have knowledge. He calls himself the
"highest" type, since he is incapable
of cognizing any which is more
elevated. Yet, man has Imagination.
And with it, he mentalizes, III way,
more perfect form of the genushomo
than vet we have seen. This wish and
desire, seems likely to be fulfilled.
Realizes probably to the limit of
present human visions. And then
there are heights beyond. No matter
to what altitude we ascend, there can
be no end or top. We must have
continuous goals before us.
II seems indeed true that s'we have
always been coming and shall ever
be going. /" And the journey is a
joyous one to those who appreci ate the
delightfulness of it all.
Out from the water of the ocean
come rain, snow, ice and steam. Back
into water they go again in due
course.
From the soil we see coming plants
and vegetation too, multifarious to
mention. All Of them, likewise revert
back and become part of the earth
from which they sprang. Each and
all, can and do, only exist separately
and as "entities", under certain con-
ditions and environments. All take
on forms according to the extraneous
forces acting upon them. And no
organization-be it's form or nature
what it may-does nor can remain the
same. Transformations are universal
and constant. And nothing constant
but change.
From out the All comes man. He
too, like all else, is subject to the
forces and processes aforesaid. And
it is more than likely that when disso-
luton does its thoro work, he as we'll
will merge again with the whole. And
no longer can the disorganized,
diffused particles, once integrated
and known as man, be dicearned as
such. At any rate. to fully trace
particles during their constant trans
formations, is a job none can perform.
Much of evidence we have which
seems to point to the fact that life is
omnipotent and omnipresent, yet in
Scr11tahla unite A11.noworf,,l o,d