The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11
MANS
A Symposium Of Poetry, Religion,
Metsphy sizes and Science.

To III EDITOR ~ THE SuN-Sir. The
question Of a future life Is neither a
question of fact nor one of belief 1t Is
purely one of speculation, and Is of the
same nature as the question concerning
the possibility OF life on the planet
Mars.
The scientists who study this problem
through their telescopes do not refer TO
the Bible for, proof OF their theory. They
do not suggest that Mars Is a world in
habited by disembodied spirits. They
argue in a common sense way from
what they see and know to what nay
be a possibility of the unknown, and
the theory they advance Is merely that
of the feasibility OF Mars being inhab-
tied by living creatures.
We can build vi n somewhat similar
argument oil the possibility of another
existence awaiting us after death: A
very large number of creatures inhabit-
ing this planet with us pass through
several stages OF existence. each of
which appears az a complete life in
itself.
invite Mr.. Bache 10 consider the
ways Of the tent caterpillar, the seven
teen year locust and a thousand other
mysterious insects. Also let him con-
slider The way Of trees and all the plants
'ht' TtHtW tu'll tAlSif'' lIOhl car W
year. He may say that these are not as
we are that We belong to the order of
vertebrate mammals aud that no such
stages Of separate individual existence
have been arranged for US, Let hin
Try 10 Imagine himself as II caterpillar.
Is ii at all likely that MIR, Bachc
Caterpillar has any conception OF a
future life awaiting him when he sets
through with his caterpillar existence !
Can he picture himself as "a radiant
winged being hutterlng In the sunlight?
And has he ia, ~fliniest idea when he
wraps himself IN his wonderful COCOON
shroud that he is ever going to merge
from it Into another life? Some natural
lists think the caterpillar feels Ill when
II sets to work to make tina shroud.
and that well fed. happy c%aterpillars
postpone shroud m1kiHc untll they
cease to be happy and well fed.
he that as II may. wnen the butler
ay emerges into It's new world OF All
and sunlight ihe.e IL not u trace oi
the caterpillar left. apparently. IN It's
anatomy out OF that tomb %cOntaining
nothing but an inert and practically
lifcless OF al least insens!blc caterpillar
comes forth A creature with wings. long
legs and the body Of n beetle. a Totally
Jifferen. creation for a totally dinereLi
ufe in . higher world.
II We are not more important in La
lures scheme. at least Ne are bigger
and We are surely just as worthy oi
more than one style OF existence a.
the caterpillar. But 1t is not a Grrs-
ton of ethics II Is a matter for arGu-
ment from analogy.
Nature is inexhaustible In her variet.
of method. We do not need to follow IN
the wake of the caterpillar. Nature il
quite capable of inven:ing something
wholly different for us.
Something may survive the trans
formation We call death. 1t may b,
only a spark OF life. 1t may be only
vapor escaping from the prison OF thu
body. Nature does not need much t
build life on, and off and upward thi.
spark or this vapor nay make its way
until il reaches those new and neces
sary conditions which permit its re
newed life.
Danish the idea OF the unth!nksbl
soul. Let our men Of science study ma
lures methods and approach tn
problem OF our possible future as 8
rational subject for scientific research
and philosophical speculation.
CAROLINE pRMBERroN.
MoNTRosE. pa, July s.