The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-03
Live With the Mighty
nv N. ADDfNeroN suucx
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
atty" Psychology and
fArenthood." etc.


had read the evening newspaper
and glanced thru a magazine. Then
| turned TO a new book. the recently
published translation OF Fiournoy's
The Philosophy OF william James. Z"
During the last few years OF Prof.
James life II had been my good for.
tune 10 know him personally. often
we had discussed things he held
much at heart, notably physical re
search. Indeed. II seems only yes
terday since last talked with him.
Naturally I opened F1ournoy's
book with much interest. AS I read
! found that n did not disappolnt
me In its pages was again seeing
and hearing william james. again
rrofiting from contact with his re
markable personality.
When. fnaily. laid down the
book and went 20 bed. the thought
uppermost In my mind was one OF
gratitude az having been able. mere
~ thru reading some well arranged
words. 20 renew acquaintance with
my old friend. To this thought there
presently succeeded another
what this book has done for me
reflected. Is What every good book
OF the kind does for It's readers.
For surely II rs the supreme mission
81 every book dealing with great
mans life and work TO enable those
who read IL 60 live in spirit with
that man and gain BY thus living
with him.
Here. assuredly, Ia fact OF great
significance.
II William James had lived a hun.
dred years before my time. or had
not been fortunate enough 20 know
him In life. I still would have been
the gamer from reading F1ournoy
Similarly In the case OF every worth
while man whose life Is dealt with
by worthwhile biographers and com
mentAtors.
Thru these biographers and com
mentators We can all OF as, AZ any
time. live with the mighty Of every
land and generation. Our daily sur
roundings may be sordid. our asso
eiates may be barren-minded. but
here we have a sure means OF es-
cape and acknowledgment.
And even ~ our surroundings and
associates are stimulating, II win
greatly avail IA TO become famil-
iarly acquainted with the mightiest
OF men thru their biographies. II
they are men who have them
selves been writer's. We can profit
yet more by reading what they have
written
II only We read with an eager
mind. contact with their personality
and with their ideas is certain 10
enlarge our own personality and
ideas. something OF their power
win come 20 us We shall be bet
ter fitted to live sficisntly and hap
pity.
Tonight perhaps you are feeling
lonely and respondent There are
problems and care depressing you.
Try this experiment:
Go 20 your book case or TO the
nearest public library. Take a good
biography OF some great man
Washington. Lincoln, Darwin, Hux
ley. Tennyson. Browning. Emerson
whomsoever at the moment most
appeals TO you Sit down and read
this for an hour or two. Then
mediate on what you have read.
You win feel better for doing this
I can assure you. Repeat the Ell
pertinent Get into the habit OF thus
living with the mighty ~ least q
few minutes every day.
Life will then seem less hard. In
time II will begin 10 be roso colored
10 you. For you will be shaking OF
the letters Of doubt and weakness
You win be steadily gaining in
POWER to achieve.