The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-05-28


tired Of his books sAd problems he
went to his wsn-appointed carpenter
shop and worked at anything that o.
Cured to him, but he did not attempt
to construct perpetual motion ma.
chimes.
There u mucn disappointment in
attempting to solve or understand
what lies beyond the limits Of the
human intellect" he said to Douglass.
yet those limitations are clearly
enough defined. Wherever Ne ind .
wide difference Of opinion among saw
ants and scholars Of all ages We may
decide at once that no pro~able an
swer to the question on which they
differ has ever been found.
when Q correct explanation Of =
certain matter, the rotundity Of the
earth, for example, Ii offered. We ina
that II II soon accepted universally.
But when We review the question Of
the secret Of existence and md .
thousand Earring theories we may re
sure no correct solution has ever hoen
reached"
"Then you have no theory Of your
own on that subject?"
mo. do moi believe II u intended
that We should know. II It were the
wish Of the Creator that I should DO
able to grasp tho meaning Of space
and time, II would have been made
clear TO mo. A limitation has been
placed In every branch Of learning
and discovery. Up to this point
thousands proceed, some rapidly,
some haltinsly. but they reach q bar
at last, and from that point all Of
forts are abortive.
I'm mathematical, for example, We
go smoothly along. finding rules and
solutions easily. and then bring up
roundly at the Quadraturs of the
circle. The more ambitious ones
strive to 80 on. but they accomplish
sect the body and name ali its parts
and muscles; we know tho functions
OF the heart. the brain, the blood-all
these things ten thousand men learn
and agree on. but the greatest stu.
dent, the greatest scholar. can give
no explanation OF life itself"
Nor OF death"
ut II much the same thing; I think
the most contorted idea Of the ages
has been. and In. tho fear of death.
It In as natural to die a. to be born,
and the fear arises largely from bad
education and strained thinking.
Properly attuned, man would look
forward to dissolution with equa :
nimity. ! do not speak of violent
or premature deaths-they are hid
eous. because unnatural. And after
all. the worry and fear Of death finds
its own faliacy In old age. The nearer
man comes to the end OF his natural
span the less he fears the end.
believe that often he comes not to
abhor It but to feel the need Of It,"
That II q consoling Vew."
There u greater and more con-
soling one-the plain. sound realiza-
ton that It Is all right. The birth
the budding and dropping Of a rose.
When tho false and artificial fear of
death comes to man he has but To
say cheerfully. IT'S all right: know
II must DO all right To look on
death without Qualms IL natural: 10
look at 1t otherwise u morbid. The
very nomenclature In bad: the valley
OF the shadow the StygiAn shore.
the worm and the winding sheet.
are all terms calculated to convey
terror to the unphilosophical mind"
And how has thie view affected
your daughter"
"She Is q proof of the theory. No
superstition. morbidness or fear has
ever touched her. doubt II she ever
thinks about It at all"
Suppose you were to die. would II
not grieve her greatlyf"
THAT Is beside the question:: We
are not discussing the pain OF part
Ing from loved ones. II left her fol
q year she would weep: II forever
she would weep still more-it Is
matter Of degree"
my question was an unfair one.
admit. I would like to ask you an
other question. DO you think the
world Is growing better or worse AZ
II grows 0lderr'
Harrison Strengthened UP from hi,
work and said:
sir. It II growing better. slowly bu
surely. Its progress 10 gatised by thu
development OF the human intellect
One by one the evils are dying out
We can look back . few centuries
upon barbaritios and horrors; to-day
we find evils, but In Q lessor degree
In centuries to come the greater evil
viii DO remedied until fair state o.
civilization Is reached"
"Do you think tho reformers ART
accomplishing much good7"
but not in the way they usually In
tend. They are educating the masses
The schemes and hopes which the,
promulgats for the sudden overthrow
Of evil are but a dream. To cure In
herent evils and passions by law
and regulations Is impossible. As
said. the development of the intellec
alone can bring society to an Idea
state, When the reformers point on
clearly certain evils they Aid in edu
eating their unthinking brethren. ant
so much good Is done.
Take tho question Of undue ac
cumulation OF wealth, for instance
, all the soclalistic laws and schemes
will prove inadequate until peopl
learn to look upon the dishonest ant
, avaricious man an a creature to b.
Stunned, not envied. Reform move
ments are merely evidences, out
groupings of tho intellectual advanc
they are tho visible proofs that w
are progressing. To consider for a
instant that they are the cause o
advancement IL simply to cay tn
engine drives the steam.'"
you think the time will come whel
svarice will be considered truly
vice and the rich miser shunned?"
1T Ia coming now" Harrison said
extending his hand and pointinI
across the lake "YOnder In tn