The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-20
The Zeitgiest.


Copyright, 1919. International News
SERVICE
When we havs an idea we either
invent . word to express 1t, or else
We borrow one. Tho best use of ideas
u tor gift purposes. We keep ideas
by giving them away. And only
through formuiatips thoughts for
another do We make them our own.
Language. like electricity. is for pur-
poses Of transmission.
In the last issue OF The Century
: Dictionary Will be found the word
'zeitgeist." 1t is German word. now
naturaliasd and accepted as an Amer
lean citizen. ---,----
The word Zeitgeist means the soul
VI things. II means that great mass
Of opinion, ideals. hopes and ton
denotes that men in the mass accept.
We are all partakers Of Tho
zeitgsist, Any man who thinks
thoughts that are original and belong
only to himself will die of heart hum
ser. narooned on a desert Inland call
ed Nostalgia. We are happy only
when we are expressing the best in
tho Zsitgeist. We only succeed as We
live in the zcitgeist-
No one understands us, save -
we explain to them the things they
already know. but which perhaps they
do not know they know until we tell
them.
4 The arts Of speech, sculpture. paint
ing, literature, are all endoavors 70
interpret the Zeitgeist. When mans
head is in q certain stratum Of spir1-
tuai atmosphere he knows all the
thoughts OF other people whose heads
are in the Same stratum. II you
are on my wire when ring. You re-
spond.
In the zeitgatst there are degrees
OF subtiety just as In sound there arc
vibrations which to some ears are
never felt. There are tants and shades
that are observable TO some people
and not to others.
We are Influenced by the zeitgsast.
Also, we are helping to form the
Zeitgeist.
A man may die and drop out Of the
game. but the Zeitgeist lives on and
on. And the influence that this man
has exerted on tho many still enduree
because they are products OF the Zeit-
geits.
The present Zeitgeist is Of kind
unequaied In history. We have thou
sands upon thousands OF men and
women who are thinking great and
noble thoughts and expressing these
thoughts in their work. May OF our
business men regard thsmseives as
subtle servants.
Our neopie are sensitive, restless,
alert. impressionab1e, progressive, ana
making for righteousness. The man
who can imagine better religion
than now exists is allowed to throw
f1fx sv4asuns vyT tfs3 screen. ana ne wac
can formulate better government
than we now have In not hanged tor
M. Mains. but In allowed TO express
his dreams.
p,,btic opinion rules. No law that
= IN ssnsxRyy To the 7s-ss Essst-es1s De
Judges canxtrue. translate and In
terpret the laws TO suit the Trend OF
the Times.
and clear Ia tinting the 1sIkeS..
Every man who expresses what Nc
honestly thinks lis true Is changing the
thinkers help other people think.
tar thav formulate what others aIo
shfnk,ng. No person writes Or thinks
. alor,e-thoughs Is In the AIR, put its
I .sxbrersion lis necessary 10 create >
tangible Trend Of The Times
THE value Of the thinker WAC
Mite. ar a writer who thinks. or a
business man who acts. IN that ne
supplies arguments for the people. ana
confirms all who are on mis- WiIe "a
sh@fr oninions often before unt'tseteu'
The brotherhood OF man As an idsa
na,r sullv appreciated in business
commerce to-day stands Tor mutuAA's'
reciprocity, co-operation-
The American department store .,s
taken M lost motion and given tne
-. ha..Ar goods at a lower price.
/. s,s heen the inevitable. because
soe~ the greatest good TO the creates.
rursher i. has worked for eeononiS
and length uf days. II means s''niaisAn
or the one. x,aa.a
Every purchaser must De psasea
4 child who buys spool OF u.sa"
/. given the same courteous ~ !.
ton as the shrewaest eas q.
customer Is made to reel tnst nc -
:. bn,na. that he In with strong anu
ssf..,antitI friends; that his interests
80 ~.saruaraea. This matter or iaf.h
ssa.,sssn b,,yar and seller Ia new
thing in the world. -
Eh,nloyes who plot and plan ioi
,,,,vate gain are swaeblnx the $500
chute that leads to lisnous. o".tV. .
IN. RIM a business but TO MAKE mo-
r.itnsr make money nor DO they
last. . an
Merchants cannot make money '
s.ns transaction Every sale nmst
I nave the wa~ 70. further sasss.
sssle onr money out OF our friends
enr ,sr enemies will moi deal VAIN
rs. A transaction where po''
are not benefited is immoral =.
W r-,ana ~ the Times Is all ia
~ a;reetinn Of rnlightened Self-ln.
psuhtanirHnerS is grrm OF