The Washington times., 1920-02-22

BY night, cursed when he lieth
down and cursed when he riseth
up, cursed when he goeth out,
Cursed when he cometh in. The
Lord pardon him never" Toward
the end Of the curse it says:
There shall no man speak to him,
No man write to him, no man show
him any kindness, no nan stay I'M
der the same rosf with him, no
man come nigh him."
In spite Of this curse, the most
intelligent men in Europe wrote to
him, the ablest thinking men con-
stantly sought to see and speak
with him. A rich Englishman, ad-
miring his genius, left to Spinoza
his fortune. Spinoza refused 1t,
saying: LET your brother have it.
He will enjoy money" He con-
sented to accept an allowance Of
about 10 cents a day in case he
should lose his eyesight, which
would make it impossible for him
to earn q living. He lived for phi
losophy and truth, he lived by
grinding leases. He died at fortys
four, having taught the philoso-
pliers of the world to think.
This extract from Arnold's es-
say may lead you into further
reading Of Spinoza:
"A philosopher who professed
that knowledge was its own re-
ward, devotee who professed
that the love of God was its own
reward. This philosopher and
this devotee believed in what he
said. Spinoza led q life the most
spotless, perhaps, to be found
among lives Of philosophers; he
lived simple, studious, even tenn
pered, kind, declining honors. de-
clining riches, declining notoriety.
He was poor and his admirer,
Simon Devries, sent him two
thousand 'florins-he refused
them. The same friend left him
his fortune-he returned it to the
heir. He was asked to dedicate
one of his works to the magnifi-
cent patron of letters in his CEN
fury. Louis the Fourteenth: he de-
clined. In his great work, his
ethics, published after his death,
he gave injunctions to his friends
to publish anonymously for fear
he should give his name to a
school. Truth. he thought, should
han ,. M ~ ms vau,~ ~
TIE old gentlemen Of the Dutch
synagogue who accommodated
him with such fine curse, live in
history like the ass that kicked
the sick lion in the fable. Many
an ass Of that type lives for. hay
ing burned, imprisoned, or other
wise tortured genius.
. % Another Arnold essay deals
with Marcus Aurelius, in many
ways the best, most highly moral
man that ever lived and certainly
a.. the best, most moral, Of absolute
rulers. In spite Of being one of
the worlds best men, Marcus
Aurelius prosecuted the Christians
and he bad for son Commodus,
one Of the most viciously brutal of
human beings. Before you Judge
Marcus Aurelius for his persecu-
ton, you must realize. the spirit
of the times in which he lived.
The multitude displayed against
them q fury so passionate as to
embarrass and alarm. their rulers.
AS usual, you learn that what you
admire In Marcus Aurelius IS me
work of a woman. -, He SAYS:
From my mother learned piety
and beneiicence, and abstinence
not only from evil deeds, but even
from evil thoughts; and further,
simplicity in my way Of living, far
removed from the habits OF the
Arnold's essays will please YOU
because he writes interestingly of
those whom you know, Milton,
Keats. Grey, Byron, Shelly, TOl
stoy and OF others like Joubert,
Deguerin, and his sister, and
others Of whom average men know
little. !..t.,..'
Joubert wrote we'll on style,
and young gentlemen writing
solemn poetry or "snappy advertis-
ing will read the Joubert essay
to their. profit.
ut Ia by means of familiar words
that style takes hold of the read
er and gets possession Of him. OF all
the words In use. none are so clear
as those which we call common
words; and clearness is SO emil
nently one OF the characteristics
OF truth, that often it even passes
for truth itself. Be profound with
clear terms and not with obscure
terms. What is difficult will at
last become easy. But as one goes
deep into things, one must still
keep q charm. and must carry into
these dark depths Of thought, the
pure and antique clcarness of
centuries less learned than ours
but with more light in them"
Clersymen will be interested in
Joubert One should be fearful Of
being wrong In poetry when one
thinks differently from the poets,
and in religion when one thinks