Buchanan's Journal of Man, September 1887 Part 2

GREEK PHILOSOPHY.--The essential pedantic stupidity of Aristotle's logic, and its power to belittle and benumb the intelligence of its reverential students has been shown in every college where this effete study is kept up. We have no better ill.u.s.tration of late than its effect on Prof. Harris, who is a very intelligent and useful citizen, but who has been so befogged by such studies as to suppose that his pedantic talk about syllogisms embodies an important contribution to philosophy, and indeed it was announced as such by his reporter. The superst.i.tious reverence for Greek literature is impressed on all young collegians, and few recover from it. Sir William Hamilton and R. W.

Emerson, who were much more intellectual and brilliant than Prof.

Harris, were as badly afflicted as he with this Greek superst.i.tion, which has been implanted in school boys so young that it dominates their whole lives with the energy of a prenatal condition. The only very silly things ever written by the brilliant Emerson were those pa.s.sages in which he speaks of Plato; and the silliest thing in the life of Hamilton is the way in which he exulted over some trivial modification of Aristotle's syllogistic ideas, which was about as trivial as that of Prof. Harris, and allowed himself to be publicly flattered by one of his students in the most fulsome manner for the wonderful profundity of his wisdom, that could even add something to the divine wisdom of Aristotle.

To tell a Greek idolater that the divine Plato thought it a great MYSTERY that one and one should make two, that he declared it to be incomprehensible to him, and thought the only possible solution of the mystery to be, that two is produced "by _partic.i.p.ation in duality_,"

would surprise him; but he would be still more surprised to learn that this is only a specimen brick of Plato's divine philosophy, as it abounds in similar puerilities. I have long since reviewed this effete philosophy of an ignorant age, and shown its true character, but my work has never been offered to a bookseller. Yet it shall not be suppressed. The destruction of stultifying superst.i.tions is as necessary in education and literature as in religion. The ponderous blows of Lord Bacon upon this Greek superst.i.tion of the literary cla.s.ses did not prove fatal, for the same reason that animal organisms of a low, cold-blooded, grade are hard to kill,--they must be cut up in fragments before their death becomes complete; superst.i.tions and beliefs that have no element of intelligent reason, and are perpetuated by social influence, authority, and domination over the young become a blind force that resists all influence from reason.

If my readers are interested in the destruction of venerable and powerful falsehoods that stand in the way of every form of progress, I may be tempted to publish a cheap edition of my work on Greek Philosophy and Logic. It is not in the least presumptuous to lay hands upon this venerable illusion, and show that it has not even the vitality of a ghost. It is but a simulacrum or mirage, and it is but necessary to approach it fearlessly, and walk through it, to discover its essential nonent.i.ty.

SYMPOSIUMS deserves a good report. One of the philosophers, whose doctrines were poetically paraphrased in the report of the scientific responses upon human immortality, writes that he enjoyed the poetical paraphrase very much, and never laughed over anything so heartily. It would be pleasant to hear the real sentiments of the remainder. It would be equally interesting to hear how Prof. Harris and the other Concordians enjoy the little sketch of their symposium.

LITERATURE OF THE PAST.--"In an article on the 'Archetypal Literature for the Future,' by Dr. J. R. Buchanan, which appears in the JOURNAL OF MAN for March, the writer foreshadows a time to which the American mind is fast advancing when the literature of the past will take its place amongst the mouldering ma.s.s which interests the antiquarian, but has no positive influence in guiding the thoughts and actions of the pa.s.sing generation. There are some indications of a movement in that direction in other countries, though the vast majority, including many Spiritualists and Theosophists, still explore the records of past ages, looking for the light which is s.h.i.+ning all about them in the present, unrealized."--_Harbinger of Light_, Australia.

THE CONCORD SCHOOL.--We are glad that the Concord School is over, and we should think that the people that have been there would be glad to get home and take part in the things which interest average folks. If people like that sort of thing and can afford it, there is no reason why they should not go there and stay. But to the average man the whole thing looks about as near time wasted as anything which even Boston furnishes to the "uncultured" world outside.--_Boston Record._

NEW BOOKS.--"THE HIDDEN WAY across the threshold, or the mystery which hath been hidden for ages and from generations,--an explanation of the concealed forces in every man to open the temple of the soul and to have the guidance of the unseen hand.--By J. C. Street, A. B. N., Fellow of S. S. S., and of the Brotherhood Z. Z. R. R. Z. Z." Lee & Shepard, publishers, Boston ($3.50). This is a very handsome volume of nearly 600 pages, which I have not had time to examine. It appears to be chiefly a compilation with quotation marks omitted, written in the smooth and pleasing style common in spiritual literature, without any attempt at scientific a.n.a.lysis or criticism. Sharp critics condemn it, but it suits the popular taste and inculcates good moral lessons. I shall examine it hereafter.

"SOLAR BIOLOGY--a scientific method of delineating character, diagnosing disease, determining mental, physical, and business qualifications, conjugal adaptability, etc., etc., from the date of birth.--By HIRAM E. BUTLER, with ill.u.s.trations." Boston, Esoteric Publis.h.i.+ng Company, 478 Shawmut Avenue ($5.00). This is a handsome volume, which, from a hasty examination, appears to be a large fragment of Astrology, containing its simplest portion, requiring no abstruse calculations, and hence adapted to popular circulation. It is meeting with some success, but those who feel much interest in astrology prefer to take in the whole science, which has a much larger number of votaries than is commonly supposed.

DR. FRANZ HARTMANN, of Germany, has published some interesting volumes recently, on "Paracelsus," "White and Black Magic," and "Among the Rosicrucians," which I have had no time to examine. A valuable essay from Dr. Hartmann is on file for publication in the JOURNAL, in which he compares the doctrines of the occult philosophy with those presented in the JOURNAL OF MAN.

PROGRESS OF CHEMISTRY.--FORTY NEW SUBSTANCES.--"During the decade ending with 1886 over forty discoveries of new elementary substances were announced, while the entire number previously known was less than seventy. No less than nine were detected by Crookes last year. The list is likely to be lengthened quite as materially in the current twelvemonth, as A. Pringle already claims to have found six new elements in some silurian rocks in Scotland. Five of these are said to be metals, and the other is a substance resembling selenium, which the discoverer calls hesperisium. One metal is like iron, but does not give some of its reactions; another resembles lead, is quite fusible and volatile, and forms yellow and green salts; another, named erebodium, is black; the fourth is a light-gray powder, and the last is dark in color."

ASTRONOMY.--"The absolute dimensions of a globular star cl.u.s.ter have been studied by Mr. J. E. Gore of the Liverpool Astronomical Society.

These cl.u.s.ters consist of thousands of minute stars, possibly moving about a common center of gravity. One of the most remarkable of these objects is 13 Messier, which Proctor thinks is about equal to a first magnitude star. Yet Herschel estimated that it is made up of fourteen thousand stars. The average diameter of each of these components must be forty-five thousand two hundred and ninety-eight miles, and each star in this wonderful group may be separated from the next by a distance of nine thousand million miles."

"According to the computations of M. Hermite, a French astronomer, the total number of stars visible to the naked eye of an observer of average visual power does not exceed 6000. The northern hemisphere contains 2478, and the southern hemisphere contains 3307 stars. In order to see this number of stars, the night must be moonless, the sky cloudless, and the atmosphere pure. The power of the naked eye is here stayed. By the aid of an opera gla.s.s 20,000 can be seen, and with a small telescope 150,000, while the most powerful telescopes will reveal more than 100,000,000 stars."

"M. Ligner, an Austrian meteorologist, claims to have ascertained after careful investigation that the moon has an influence on a magnetized needle, varying with its phases and its declination. The phenomenon is said to be more prominently noticeable when the moon is near the earth, and to be very marked when she is pa.s.sing from the full to her first or second quarter. The disturbances are found to be in their maximum when the moon is in the plane of the equator, and greater during the southern than it is during the northern declination."

GEOLOGY ILl.u.s.tRATED.--I have often thought that when coal mines are exhausted and land is too valuable to be devoted to raising timber, it may become necessary to draw on the subterranean heat of the earth.

This idea is already verified in Hungary.

Late advices say: "The earth's internal heat is now being used in a practical way at Pesth, where the deepest artesian well in the world is being sunk to supply hot water for public baths and other purposes.

A depth of 3120 feet has already been reached, and the well supplies daily 176,000 gallons of water, heated to 150 Fahr."

A MATHEMATICAL PRODIGY.--Reub Fields, living a few miles south of Higginsville, Mo., though he has no education whatever, and does not know a single figure or a letter of the alphabet, is a mathematical wonder. Though he never carries a watch, he can tell the time to a minute. When asked on what day of the week the 23d of November, 1861 came, he answered, "Sat.u.r.day." When asked, "From here to Louisiana, Mo. it is 159 miles; how many revolutions does the driving wheel of an engine fifteen feet in circ.u.mference make in a run from this place to Louisiana?" he replied, "55938 revolutions." Reub was born in Kentucky, and claims that this power was given to him from heaven when he was eight years old, and that the Lord made but one Samson, one Solomon, and one Reub Fields, for strength, wisdom, and mathematics.

ASTROLOGY IN ENGLAND.--Mrs. L. C. Moulton, correspondent of the _Boston Herald_, writes: "In old times a court astrologer used to be kept, as well as a court jester; but I confess I was not aware, until last night, that the astrologer of to-day might be as important to one's movements as one's doctor or one's lawyer. One of the cleverest and busiest literary men in all London said to me last night that he thought the neglect of astrological counsel a great mistake. 'I have looked into the subject rather deeply,' he said, 'and the more I search, the more convincing proof I find of the influence of the stars upon our lives; and now I never begin a new book, or take a journey, or, in short, do anything of any importance without consulting my astrologer.' And then he went on to tell me the year in which the cholera devastated Naples he had thought of going there. Happily, he consulted his astrologer and was warned against it. In accordance with the astrologer's advice, he gave up the journey; and just about the time he would otherwise have gone, news came of the cholera visitation. Last year he was warned against a certain journey--told that if he took it he would be ill. For once he defied the stars, and, in consequence, he was taken seriously ill with the very symptoms the astrologer had predicted. But, alas, his astrologer is fat and old--and what s.h.i.+pwreck may not my friend make of his life when the stars have reclaimed their prophet, and the poor fellow has to struggle on uncounselled!"

PRIMOGENITURE ABOLISHED.--"By a majority of eleven the House of Lords has abolished primogeniture in cases of intestacy. Thus, unless it is formally specified by will, property will henceforth be divided equally among heirs, as in this country. No longer will the eldest son, by the mere fact of the death of his father, come into possession of the estate to the exclusion of his brothers and sisters. Of course, entailed estates will not be affected, and property can be transmitted by will at the testator's pleasure, but the notable point is that primogeniture cannot henceforth be looked upon as an inst.i.tution so characteristic and time-honored that departure from it would be a really questionable proceeding."

MEDICAL INTOLERANCE AND CUNNING.--The proscriptive medical law of Iowa does not seem to be very effective, as it is believed to be unconst.i.tutional, and its friends have been challenged to make test cases, but have not yet begun to enforce it. In Illinois they have a law that is imperative enough against pract.i.tioners without diplomas; but as this did not reach those who used no medicines, they have succeeded in procuring a law to reach them also by a new definition of "practicing medicine," which the new statute says shall include all "who shall treat, operate on, or prescribe for any physical ailment of another." This would seem sufficient to protect the M. D.'s against all compet.i.tion, but there is some doubt whether such legislation can be enforced, as it is certainly a corrupt and selfish measure that was never desired by the people. The _Religio Philosophical Journal_ speaks out manfully, and "advises all reputable healers of whatever school, to possess their souls in peace, and go steadily forward in their vocation, fearing neither Dr. Rauch nor the unconst.i.tutional provisions of the statutes, under which he and his confederates seek to abridge and restrict the rights of the people. If any reputable pract.i.tioner of the healing art, who treats without drugs, is molested in his or her practice, let them invite prosecution, and communicate with the _Religio Philosophical Journal_ for further advice and a.s.sistance." I regret to say there is a strong probability that the friends of medical freedom in Ma.s.sachusetts will be again called upon to resist attempts to procure medical legislation.

NEGRO TURNING WHITE.--A colored man named Antone Metoyer has been employed at the railroad works in this city (Sacramento) for some time, and his steadiness and industry have caused him to be esteemed by those acquainted with him. Seven or eight months ago his skin was black, but it commenced to turn white, and now his body, arms, legs and neck are as white as those of any Caucasian. The original color is now only upon his face, extending back of the ears, just beneath the chin, and across the upper portion of the forehead, making him appear to be wearing a close-fitting black or dark brown mask. On the chin and nose the dark color is beginning to wear away, and he thinks in a few weeks he will be perfectly white. His hair and whiskers are black and curly. Medical men have taken much interest in his case, and attribute the change in complexion to the effect upon his system of working constantly with potash and other material used in was.h.i.+ng greasy waste. He has been advised that it may be dangerous for him to continue under this influence, but he declares that he will stay until the process he is undergoing is completed, if it kills him.--_Record Union_.

THE CURE OF HYDROPHOBIA.--"The English committee appointed by the local government board in April, 1886, to inquire into Pasteur's inoculation method for rabies, report that it may be deemed certain that M. Pasteur has discovered a method of protection from rabies comparable with that which vaccination affords against infection from smallpox." As many think there is no protection at all, the question is not finally settled. It is only the stubborn ignorance of the medical profession which gives to Pasteur's experiments their great celebrity and importance. Other methods have been far more successful than Pasteur's. Xanthium, Scutellaria (Skull-cap), the vapor bath, and chloroform or nitrous oxide are more powerful and reliable than any morbid inoculation.

JOHN SWINTON'S paper, at New York, has come to an end. Swinton was a bold, eloquent, and fearless advocate of human rights as he understood them. His failure is an honor to him, and his name will be remembered.

Perhaps if he had imitated the Boston dailies, by giving ten to eighteen columns to the record of base ball games, he might have put money in his purse, instead of losing it.

In marked contrast to John Swinton's failure, observe the success of the _New York Tribune_, a newspaper founded by Horace Greeley, but which, since his death, has given, in its unscrupulous course, a good ill.u.s.tration of the Satanic press. The _Boston Herald_ says: "The _New York Tribune_ is perhaps as good an ill.u.s.tration of the old-fas.h.i.+oned partisan journal as there is in the country. There was an amusing reminiscence of the methods that used to be practised when the _Tribune_ was found claiming the Legislature of Kentucky as having been carried by the Republicans in the late elections. The fact was that the Democratic majority in that body was about five to one, and there was really no excuse in a metropolitan journal for not knowing such to be the case." The _Tribune_ once complimented highly the JOURNAL OF MAN, but that was when Horace Greeley was alive.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND PROGRESS.--The last legislature of Pennsylvania pa.s.sed a very radical law, providing that marriage shall not impose any disability as to the acquisition or management of any kind of property, making any contracts, or engaging in any business. However, she is not authorized to mortgage her real estate without her husband's co-operation, nor become endorser for another alone. As to making a will she has the same rights as a man.

Ohio has also advanced woman's rights by enabling both husband and wife to dispose of property as if unmarried, and by giving each party one-third life interest in the other's real estate.

In Kansas, women can vote in city and town affairs, and hold munic.i.p.al and town offices. In one town they have a female mayor. The supreme court of Kansas has decided that when a woman marries she need not take her husband's name unless she chooses.

CO-EDUCATION is successful, nearly every prominent college is beginning to admit women, and they often carry off the prizes from the men. Exclusive masculine colleges will soon rank among the barbarisms of the past.

Female education is advancing in Russia. The universities had 779 female students in 1886, 437 of whom were daughters of n.o.blemen and official personages. On the other hand the Prussian Minister of Education refuses to admit women as regular students at any university or medical school.

Several Italian ladies have distinguished themselves in legal knowledge, and the propriety of their admission to the bar is extensively discussed. About nine-tenths of the newspapers favor their admission.

The practical question, which is most important to the welfare of women, is profitable employment. Miss Simc.o.x says that there are about three millions of women in England engaged in industrial employments, while a large proportion of them, especially in London, have such poor wages as to produce continual suffering. INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION, alike for boys and girls, is the true remedy, worth more than all the nostrums of politicians and demagogues.

SPIRIT WRITING.--Our handsome young friend, Dr. D. J. Stansbury, a graduate of the Eclectic Medical College of New York, is giving astonis.h.i.+ng demonstrations on the Pacific coast. When a pair of closed slates is brought, he barely touches them, and the spirit writing begins. Sometimes the slates are held on the head or shoulders of the visitor. At one of his seances at Oakland, it is said that he held the slates for thirty-five persons within two hours, and obtained for each a slate full of writing in answers to questions placed between the slates. At a public seance in Santa Cruz, following a lecture, folded ballots were sent up by the audience and the answers were sometimes written on closed slates and sometimes by the doctor's hands. Dr. S.

has also succeeded in repeating the famous performance of Charles Foster--the names of spirits appearing on his arm in blood-red letters.

PROGRESS OF THE MARVELLOUS.--The _Boston Herald_ of Aug. 7 has a long account of the marvellous fires which occur in the house at Woodstock, New Brunswick, of Mr. Reginald C. Hoyt. The people of the town are greatly excited about it, and great crowds gather to witness it, but no one can explain it. The fires break out with no possible cause in the clothes, the carpet, the curtains, bed quilts, or other objects, as much as forty times in a day. The family are greatly worried and alarmed, and have been driven out of the house. The _Herald_ reporter went to examine, but found it an entire mystery.

A similar outbreak of fires has been reported in Pennsylvania, at the house of Thomas McKee, a farmer at Turtle Creek. For some weeks the invisible powers have been throwing things about in a topsy turvey way. Since that, flames break out suddenly in the presence of the family, and round holes are burned in the bed-clothes, towels, hats, dresses, and even packages of groceries in the pantry.

PRACTICAL UTILITY OF ANTHROPOLOGY.