Evening journal., 1914-03-11

m,nd. few have been more inhuentiei or
more persistent than that known IN his
tory as the search Tor the philosophers
stcne-a delusiou which. originating
among the Safaccns Of the East at the
close OF the period known as the dark
ages. gradually spread throughout Ule
civilized world. holding the minds of
men as by magic spell.
The basic idea of this remarkable &c
lusion was that somewhere in thu ar
canum of nature was 10 be found a Ger.
tain mysterious substance which, when
applied 70 metals OF the bascr sort would
have the power to transform such sub
stances into puresot gold. Kindred with
this dclusion was another. OF equal po-
tency, namely. that somewhere in the
arcanum of nature there also existed
another mysterious substance-some
herb of the fields, or c0ction Of nlin-
eral mattcr-which. when applied 70, OF
taken into the human body. woul1 have
power TO dispel, or destroy, the Ills To
which the human flesh is heir; banish.
ing all pain. and rendering men practi-
cally immortal. Ordinarily the two de- =
lusions went together the search for
each being conducted upon similar lines.
and with equal enthusiasm.
Fanciful as were these ideas. chimeri-
cal as they were. even in an age teeming
with the chimcras ever incident TO ages
aboundinc in ignorance and superstition,
they were. nevertheless. ideas. held not
alone bv the masses Of the ignorant and
hesottcd. but. after a time. with equal
tenacitv BIZ the scholars and scientists
OF the time. few Of whom disdained to
become active participants in the uni'er-
sal search.
OF the widespread interest occasioned
by these remarkable delusions IL is. per
haps in this presence unnecessary TO
sreak The story is familiar. Suffice II
70 say, that '-itn the exceptions of the
Ciusades. when Europe poured against
the Orient its hosts Of mailed men in the
fierce and protracted efforts to wrest
from nidel hands the Holy Sepulchre
o. the Christian faith; the enthusiasm
OF conquest and plunder following the
discovery of the new world. the rush Of
men to the mines Of California. the gold
fields OF the Klondyke and the diamond
fields Of the Transvaal for the posses
sion Of which Boer and Briton have been
50 fercely strugglng-no popular
movements no manias for soddcn
wealth. have been more widespread. more
universal. more full of dramatic interest
than those which Of old sent forth their
myriads in search of the Philosophers
Stone and the elixir Of Life Kings
upon thcil thrones. mobiles in their pal
aces. savans in their laboratories. pros
pectors in the mines, peasants in the
fields forestcrs from the forest. rich and
moor. educated and neducated dali join
ed in the universal search. Everywhere
lin mountain valley in the depths OF
the well.nieh inaccessible forests. IN
dcns and caves Of the earth in dingy at
tics in great cities. in subtcrrancan re-
treats. guarded from all human ap-
proach sounded the ring of the hammer,
The click OF the spade. OF rose the smoke
from the thousands OF retorts aud cru.
,ihlcs above which bent the forms OF
men infamed with desire TO wrest from
nnftfra her ,xcll-kept secrets. and 10 give
TO the world that which should drive
want from her throne. and IN the end,
silence forever the meanings of pain.
At last. after dreary ages OF expert
mcnt. ever ending in disappointment;
after research protracted until men grew
cid and died: after countless fortunes
had been eNpcndcd after countless
brain. had rceled in delirium. or gone
out in haplcss night. the spell was
broken.
slowly it passed away. Reluctantly
men returned 70 their old time pursuits
convinced that nowhere in the arcanum
of nature rested the substance for which
: save where a few enthusiastic souls tori
= ed on dreaming still OF the "Phioso-
plcr's Stone'' and the Elixir Of Life.
And still they toll dreaming even
now. as they did of old. that eventually,
the well-auarded secret win yet be re-
Nealed. that the marvellously develop
ing science of scientific age-thc
science which in a hundred years, IN a
thousand ways. has wrought so Wonder
ously for man--will yet place IN men
hands. IL not the philosophers stone, the
elixir of life. at least that which Is bet
ter than gold. better than medicine, Tor
The body the opportunities OF growth
the chances for development Of body.
mind and soul. through the acquisition
and control of which all that alchemist
ever sought shall become mans abiding
possession.
So much for the great delusion. Pass
ing now from the consideration OF the
salient outward features of the same.
for q moment. consider the philosophy
underlying the whole great movement.
For what were these men seekings TO
what end all that vast expenditure OF
crerev and timer Was il gold. Was II
medicine? Yes gold; but not gold for
Colds sake. but for that which gold
might secure. Alcdiciney Yes. medicine
but not for medicine. 30 much as for that
which medicine might bring.
Give me gold.' said the alchemist,
"eold IN abunlance-gold ready made
at hand by n touch--and with IL ] wall
hunish the outward ills TO which flesh
Is heir. With IL ] viii make all men
rich. Every man shall have his share
Without toll without hunger, without
caic. shall he live
Give me the elixir Of life. and pain
shall cease. The moan of anguish shall
never more be heard. Sickness shall pass
away The glow of health shall mantle
IN the cheeks of all: sorrow and signing
shall take wing as fly the mists before
the glory Of the sising sun. shining in IT,
strength
~ Give me both. and man will have
fcnnd the happiness Of which h'
dreams: The happiness for which he has
80 ceasclcSsly ycarncd tho happiness
FOR the want Of which he has so cease
l'-sly suffered
Examine it and in il what do we find
What. indeed. but the philosophy under
king all efforts Of man--whether of tbs
past or of the prcscnt-through whicl
he has hlindlv and fruitlessiy struggled
am msspcd foT a happiness a content
of mind. ever cludino his grasp; happi
ness for tho outward man through bet
torment of his outward condition
through change in the environments O.
lsf.. for ho tutt.ar1 n, AZ