The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-11

creative and constructive faculties and
indifference to any but the most i'm
mediate n urgent perceptions. An
impressive confirmation Of inherited
attributes is exemplifed by the Jews.
who nave shown from the earliest
times TO the present day peculiar and
distinguishing characteristics. such as
great religious zeal. n marked talent
for trade. unusual ~predi.ecticH for the
handling Of precious metals aud stones.
. extreme repugnancc toward agricul-
tIra, cmpl, ment. a lack of creative
power. but a strong emotional n in
tell"ctual capacity. and an absence Of
cohesive force. so that instinctively
they prefer prosperity in foreign COM
munitics rather than to ma nia!n a
state %: their own
Time Is merely n relative term. We
consider an individual that lives a
hLndrei years or more as living a long
:.ne. y = creature that comes to
life f,r bat an hour or so as living "A
vcr:' short time. We are not surprised
that certain plants. such "a trees. &c.
live several hundred years. or that
stones or minerals should retain their
general structure for indefinite periods.
We are not !~nCredulous when We are
.old tina; the earth has existed for
hundreds of thouSanCs OF Years. al
thoIgh such an idea ~ '.mc as is
! suggested 10y the study Of ;he heavenly
bodies makes hut a DIN and hazy
.npre ssion m rs. Man ~ an eN-
trrrnely rudimentarv form may have
existed 100000 yeas. We are
reasonably sure that he has existed
200. 600. and We have absolute evidence
81 his having been here 500 o years.
What do these figures really mean to
us excepting from the viewpoint OF
the scientist? Probably very little. as
periods of such vast extent can do
little NOR" than leave a record rather
than make = real IMPRESSION of
'hiHc .ha' We aotual'. understand.
70 a;Tivc "a; Agurcs ;ha, We fairy
comrrchchd and Il state ~ a'fa!rs that
we can Thoroughly understand, speak
inr N round numbers, humanity as We
know 1t to-day has existed for 5000
years. During much OF this period.
CertaG!y more thar half OF II, for
reasons ~ climate. topography. food
supply and the instability of freshly
developing populations. many Of its
. elements continued in constant ove
m"n' and agitation.
As a result % this state ~ insta-
hility. populations that had become
caducent and dcCadent of necessity
were conquered and driven about by
other alton less fortunately located
but more virile and strong: the less
powerful fell victim to wars Of inva-
sion and depreciation. History bears
ample testimony to this. as II illus
trated by the rise and fall OF such
great states as were represented by
Memphis. Ninevch. Babylon. Sardls.
Susa. Carthage and Rome. Downfall
and eventual collapse overlook these
nations when they no longer were
ahlc to resist the pressure of their
"ncnie and the ever increasing waves
4 migration,
The reason that such splendid car i
tails of fl%ourishing countries should
have had to succumb 10 newer and
fresher forces is frequently explained
by the gradual enfeeblement and ef-
termination OF the population as the
result Of accumulated wealth with It's
attendant spread OF luxuries and the
enervating force OF too much prosper
ity. so hard for the human creature to
withstand. That the tendency OF pros
perity Is to relax effort and diminish
the Willingness and readiness To work
which necessity enforces IL entirely in
agreement with my argument. but to
attribute the destruction of great ma
tons to this cause as in any sense
being a principal n ! consider q
great blunder.
The great nations We have men,
toned were tho result of evolution. as
are all things in this world, They were
founded and developed by strong,
virile and aggressive groups, able TO
obtain mastery OF their surroundings
and gradually to expand by tongues.
and consolidation into great empires
under the leadership of wise and capa-
BILE men. What happened to them ?
Did some enemy while they were
still at the zenith Of their power and
glory fall upon them suddenly with
overwhelming strength and upset the
work Of hundreds of years in q few
months or days? No! Such q condi-
ton Of Affairs has new existed; could
not have happened. History has per-
haps made II appear so. but that 10
because itS records have been mis-
understood or falsely collected.
1t Is evident that before a people
can develop the strength and agrees
sive force to be q world power much
building up must have been In prog
ress for many. many years. The great
empire that ~preexisted viii have had
ample time to prepare and 10 protest
|iescif; II cannot b token by surpriss
saisss The sssrty and 'intsiiissnes 70