Evening star., 1932-10-08
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| ing the "stories" behind we'll known
words, prove this. Many of our most
used words 60 back to ancient times
bringing with them constantly old ideas
and old pictures, old customs now obso-
lete
Thoughts are simpler than words,
hence he is right who now and then
declares. II know 1t, but I cannot say
It," Thoughts are knowledge, In a
sense, If not the complete knowledge
of definition. But who is there who
has not had the mortifying experience
of finding no satisfaction in a defini-
tion?
So many Of our definitions, in all
branches OF knowledge, merely push the
unknowable back another round. leav-
ing the essential mystery as well un-
defined as ever.
Fragrances are thoughts, thoughts
of the olifactory organs, if you please.
They are among the most powerful
memory stirrers. Memory deals with
thoughts, rather than words, or COM
plete sentences, thoughts which pop up
lrrelevantly, without rhyme or reason.
Just as a grammarian would repudi-
ate incomplete sentences and ill-spelled
words, SO the prim mind is inclined to
reprove unruly thoughts. Yet every one
has them, at times, and nobody can do
anything about them. Held reasonably
well In leash, there Is no reason why
they should
THE thoughts OF youth are long, long
thoughts" the poet said. He meant
mostly the thoughts inspired by sights,
specifically, the sight of sailing ship,
with men OF dark complexion on deck.
Tang OF salt air. even if waited down
Wy Ioaf cit
trees. will do great deal to restore
the perhaps momentarily destroyed
spiritual balance OF some paSserby.
There are SO many varying viewpoints
In daily conversations. even when men
seek to find out the truth. And think
OF all those who honestly do not want
to know the truth Perhaps they work
on the theory that the truth is not to
be found, at best. therefore what one
wants to believe as truth is far better
since 1t Is SO much easier to prove it,
Truth is forever held under by the
miserable necessities Of proof If the
letters Of proof could be removed from
truth. the world would arrive at bet
ter understandings almost Instantly
The eyes and mind are SO concentrated
on proof" that the real truth, which
requires none. being its own, Is lost in
lLlC CCdStlcSS
Memories of the sea bring one near
TO the truth Of existence. Perhaps it
makes no difference whether one is
actually at te brink, or dreaming of
the BRINK so long as one Is there in
thought. There is a certain elemental
something about the ocean dts tides,
its shore, its sky, its ever changing
aspects, which pales palaver. Aspects
OF hflnity are there beside which the
unhealthy hurry of the city pales. The
city life, with its rumble, and its lights,
calls on the superficial in mankind,
but the broad expanse of ocean makes
even the least wondering mind wonder
Wonder is what Is necessary. above
all else. If life Is to be anything more
than just a succession of episodes. Our
best books, our better plays, our finest
natura! sights, give it to us. Religion
Is wondering. He who wonders is not
lost, nor ever has been. He is in touch
and God. He makes that bridge for
himself, and If he were to give it a
new name he might spell it. in
moment Of abstraction. Wonder"
word a thought, fragrance, an
unknown impulse from an unknown
happening. may be just the touch
necessary to create this bridge, cross
ing strange waters. A sudden aroma,
either smelling Of sea salt, or remind
ing one OF 1t, enters the nostrils, i'm
pinges on the brain. sets up the picture
making devices of the mind, creates
again and instantly. scenes supposedly
forgotten. The difference between that
which actually is forgottn, and that
which can never be forgotten. Is exact
ly the difference between the things
which honestly do not count and the
things which do count. In the restora-
ton Of the human balance. in the good
keeping Of the equilibrium, the queer
chemistry OF leaves. induced by the
first touch of Autumn. and the univer-
sal solvent, water, plays its humble
mart