New Britain herald., 1921-12-17
TIE OBSERVER
Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

How many dcyoteos of good litcra- luro in New Britain ever turn 10 the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson with the object of curiching their minds l For the benefit of those who arc not acquainted with the writings of this sage and philosopher let it be said 1 that nothing in the history Of Amer ! iCMn letters offers more delight more l inspiration or purity than the essays of Emerson whose name will ever occupy a place in the shrine of fame because Of it's intimate association with everything that is best in man kind.
 Although Emcrson's independent theological views arc not accepted be cause they conGicted sharply with ac- ccpted dogmas there is no question: l ing his sincerity, nor can his opinions be contradictcd in their entirety sim ply because they are In opposition to beliefs established by centuries of &C., ceptance by millions of d"yout Chris tians.
 
 views, his peer as a philosopher and as an interpreter of the deeper cur rents of life has yet to come 10 the fore. One cannot read Emerson with out sensing a strengthening of moral fiber, a stiffening of the backbone and an encouragement to face the future with greater confidence.
 Emerson had what might be de scri bed as a symmetrical" mind, one of perfect balance, accepting truths as elemental as life itself and reject ling, apparently without conscious cf- fort, vain and false theories which did not square with facts brought out by the test of time. He was, no less painter of superb word pictures Few such pictures can compare for charm and color with the beginning of his address delivered hefor" the senior class in Divinity College, Cam bridge, Massachusetts, on July IS | 1S3S:
 Tn this refulgent summer it has been luxury to draw the breath oi | life. The grass grows, the buds burst l the meadow is spotted with fire and gold in the tint of flowers. The air is full of birds, and sweet with the breath of the pine, the balm of Gilcad and the new hay. Night brings nc gloom to the heart with it's welcome shade. Through the transparent dark ness the stars pour their almost splr- itual rays. Man under them seems a young child, and his huge globe a toy. The cool night bathcs the World as with a river and prepares his eYci again for the crimson daWn.' In beauty of expression or clarity
 of thought, Emerson was equally a master. He was endowed with the faculty of thinking straight gift which seems to be all too rare in this generation of false standards. It IS always timely to call halt Tn the general rush of world events to pom der over certain truths which may be overlooked in the intense commcrual struggle (which one may notice Tn every walk of life. With this thought in mind, The Observer has selected at random a number of paragra?Ns from Emersons address referred tc previously and offers them for the good they may do:
 Tn the soul of man there is a JUS tice whose retributions are instant and entire. He who does good deed is instantly ennobled. He who does mean deed is by the action ltselt ! contracted,
 Character is always known. Thefts never cnrich aims never lmpoVeriSh; h; murder will speak out ot stone walls
 As we are. so we associate. The good, by affinity, seek the good; the vile, by affinity, the vile. mus or their own volitiOn souls proceed into heaven, into hell.
 Benevolence is absolute and real. So much benevolenCe as man hath, so much life hath he.
 Whilst a man seeks good ends, he
 is strong by the whole strength Of Nature. In so far as he rove5 from these. he bereaves himself of power,
 of auXiliares; his being shrinks out
 of all remote channels, he becomes
 less and less, mote a point until
 absolute badness is absolute death.
 Life is comic or pitiful as soon as the hlgn enuS ol pelilS ldhe out VI sight, and man becomes near-slghted, and can only attend to what address
 es the senses.
 That is always best which gives me
 to myself. The sublime is excited in
 me by the great stoiCal doctrine, Obey
 myself. That which shows God Tn
 me. fortfes me. That which shows God out of me, makes me q Wart and
 q wen.
 It is low benefit to give me some
 thing; it is a high benefit to enable
 me to do somewhat of myself.