Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-13
RY Frcdcric ]. Hask!n.

BY Frederic J. Haskin.
Washington, d. c., April 10.-John
Burroughs surely had one of the long
est and fullest lives an American ever
lived. He scarcely had need to read
American history for he had lived
through most OF 1t. He was born in
1881 In his early twenties he was
writing essays and poems. initiating
the great Ralph Waldo Emerson, who
was then the dominating literary gen.
ius OF America. Think of a man who
began his writing career as a contem-
porary OF Emerson and who published
his last book this year. For no less
than 50 ycars-almost two generations
he was an author in active practice.
His life was his real masterpiece.
Not that his works are not valuable.
He wna an essayist Of real distinction,
and a sound philosopher. He taught a
great many how to find beauty and in
tcrcst In the out-of-doors. and perhaps
he taught few how TO accept the
universe" rs he did. seeing lifo clear
ly, with all its hazards and hardships,
its soon and certain end. leaning on
no supernatural faith or hope of future
existence. and yet achieving serenity.
That was what he preached. and
whether no preached 1t convincinSly or
not, he certainly prnctiscd 1t with dig
nifty and success. He began life as n
poet. Later he became an cssayist, and
finally his whole though. and effort
turned to science. All OF his later
writings were designed to win men
over to the scientific view of life.
Burroughs, like ruost scientists, re-
jected religion. Ho could not believe
in future life or in n Creator OF the
Universe. He began his intellectual
development at time when Darwin's S
theory OF evolution was still n sensa-
tior. whom religious men were still de-
claiming against IL, and scientific men
were dcclaim!ng against religion. and
some benightcd Missionaries were trying
course took the scientific side. and
Darwin became his idol.
Many OF his later essays reflect this
intellectual conflict OF his youth. He
wrote somewhat rs though tho great
war OF the last century between reliE-
ion and science were still going hotly
forward. as though he did not realize
that a truce hadfong since been called.
the scientists and tho partisans Of
revealed religion going their separate
ways. And yet none of Burroughs
writing seems irrelevant or out OF
date. For he was always trying 10
persuade his readers TO love nature. 10
understand nature, to see that their
rcal salvation lay in life Of intclli-
gent adjustment to natures laws.
Burroughs created through his writ
ings whole army OF sentimental ma
turc lovcrs-of ladies who rave over
sunsets and bird songs, and tell you
how sweet and lovely nature is. lie
must have viewed these disciples oi
his with horror. For he saw nature as
mighty relentless force, of which
man is an accidental product. He saw
that tho life of man IS brief and
hazardous thing. subject to thou
sand chances Of injury and destruction
lie saw how man. longing to dignity
himself md his life, had come to be
lievc in future states and in personal
creators. lie understood this longing
he shared It: hut to him all religions
woro merely sentimental myths, which
in tho long run, untitled man for sur
vivaL He believed that man must sum.
mon the courage to accept the condi-
tiops of life as they are, that he must
admit he has no proof or even indica
tion of any life beyond the present
ono-nothing but longing for such a
life. Hc MUST realize further. Bur.
roughs said. that this life Is thins