The New York herald., 1921-07-17
Constructive Thinking.

An interesting discussion recently
carried on by correspondents of THE
NEw YoRK Herald concerned RoprS's
great statue. "rhe Thinker" and was
based on the question OF what the
muscular giapt. with chin propped
on hand and elbow on herculean
knee. may really be pondering so abb
sorbedly. The debate approached
what seems as good an answer as
any. that what really matters most
OF all is not the particular subject
OF the titan's meditation but the
enormously important fact that he is
thinking at all.
At the moment which the sculptor
has portrayed this possessor OF vast
physical strength is realizing that
wider and higher possibilities are re-
served for mental power than the ut
most endowment OF bodily force can
ever attain. Hence the universal ap-
peal OF the artists achievement He
has fixed with the inspiration OF
genius an eternal episode OF human
evolution in n magnificent material
setting. And this must hold observ-
ers enthralled as long as mankind re-
spends to the passionate interest OF
its own marvellous development
through immcasurable ages OF physi-
cal travail to It's present sovereignty
OF the enlightened mind.
ExERsoN declared that the most
difflcult OF all human tasks ia 20
think. This seemed at FIRST hearing
fantastic or rhetorical exaggera-
tion. But both observation and ex-
perience connrm the sagacity Of the
oracle.
For one man or woman in the COM
munity who courageously. independ-
emily and persistentiy thinks. on any
subject. trivial or tragic, ephemeral
or eternal. there are perhaps q thou
sand who largely evade the distinct
i've human privilege and responsi-
bility Of conscientious and toilsome
intellection. To accept opinions
through the printed or spoken word
from some more robust initiation
is almost fatally easier. And such
material for camounaging the lack
OF mental vitality is 40 readily avail.
able that the temptation TO utilize Il
is well nigh irresistible.
And yet upon thinking. construc.
tive, adventurous and sincere. the es.
cape of our race from n myriad perils
that threaten its welfare. and SIS
emergence into stable peace. frater.
nifty and happiness depend 10 a de-
gree as yet realized only by the
furthest seeing and deepest deivine
mentalities OF the ages.
II was then no hackneyed theme
but one OF exigent timeliness that
President A. LAWRENCE LOWELL Of
Harvard University chose for hts bac
calaureate address to the recently
graduated class on clear thinking a
the great need OF our day. His plea
was mot for more organization or
more machinery but for more per
sonal thought. clear. far reaching pro
found and widespread as possible. al
needed 20 meet the great problems Of
to-day. for In the multitude % the
wise is the welfare Of mankind And
while disclaiming the attempt 20 en-
press or imply solutions 20 the many
perplexing questions propounded BY
the age in which we live. he emphat.
ically pointed out that they DO re
quire answers. and declared that mo
man. whatever his position In life
can wholly free himself from the re-
sponsibility for the opinions he holds
about them"
Then only six days after President
LOWELL delivered this challenge not
only to the Harvard graduates but 70
minds capable of original and un.
daunted thought throughout the
world the Paris Bureau OF THE New
YoRK HERALD cabled the surprising
news that Professor HENRI BERosoN.
the greatest OF Frances modern phi.