An Important Discovery.—In the New Education I have endeavored to show that there are qualities of the atmosphere which science has not yet recognized, which are of the highest importance to human health, and that an atmosphere may have vitalizing or devitalizing qualities with apparently the same chemical composition, because some vitalizing element has been added or subtracted. This vitalizing element, though analogous to electricity, is not identical with it. We find it absent in a room that has been recently plastered, and is not quite dry. Sleeping in such a room is positively dangerous. We find the same negative depressing condition wherever evaporation has been going on in the absence of sunlight, which appears to supply the needful element. As evaporation carries off this vitalizing element, precipitation or condensation seems to supply it, especially precipitation from the upper regions of the atmosphere to which it is carried by evaporation, and to which it is supplied by sunshine. Hence we experience a delightful freshness of the atmosphere after a summer shower, or on a frosty morning, when the moisture is not only precipitated, but condensed into frost. Frost gives off more of the exhilarating element of watery vapor than dew, because it is a step farther in condensation. Hence there is a healthful, bracing influence in cold climates, where all the moisture is firmly frozen, and a very unpleasant, depressing influence when a thaw begins. The vicinity of melting snow, or a melting iceberg, is unpleasant and promotive of catarrh and pulmonary diseases. The pleasant influence of the fresh shower ceases when the fallen moisture begins to evaporate, and the dewy freshness of the early morn before sunrise ceases as the dew evaporates. The most painfully depressing atmosphere is that which sometimes comes in cold weather from Northern regions which have long been deprived of sunshine. This element of health, which physiologists have neglected to investigate, has recently been sought by Dr. B. W. Richardson of England. The Popular Science News (of Boston) says:—
Jennie Collins has passed on to her reward above. It would be wrong to neglect mentioning the remarkable career of this devoted woman, who for thirty-five years has been the guardian angel of the poor and struggling women of Boston. Rising from friendless poverty, she became widely known as a champion of human rights, and woman’s rights, and, finally, as the founder and indefatigable sustainer of that benevolent institution widely known as Boffin’s bower. Her literary powers were finely displayed in a little volume entitled “Nature’s Aristocracy,” and her mental vigor was 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 illustration 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 superstitious 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 superstition, 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 passages 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 participation 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 superstitions is as necessary in education and literature as in religion. The ponderous blows of Lord Bacon upon this Greek superstition of the literary classes 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; superstitions 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 nonentity. 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. 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 analysis 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 illustrations.” Boston, Esoteric Publishing 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 Astronomy.—“The absolute dimensions of a globular star cluster have been studied by Mr. J. E. Gore of the Liverpool Astronomical Society. These clusters 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 glass 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 passing 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 Illustrated.—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, “Saturday.” When asked, “From here to Louisiana, Mo. it is 159 miles; how many revolutions does the driving wheel of an engine fifteen feet in circumference 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. 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 institution 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 unconstitutional, 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 practitioners 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 competition, 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 unconstitutional provisions of the statutes, under which he and his confederates seek to abridge and restrict the rights of the people. If any reputable practitioner 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 assistance.” I regret to say there is a strong probability that the friends of medical freedom in Massachusetts will be again called upon to resist attempts to procure medical legislation. 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 illustration of the Satanic press. The Boston Herald says: “The New York Tribune is perhaps as good an illustration of the old-fashioned 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 passed 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. In Kansas, women can vote in city and town affairs, and hold municipal 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 noblemen 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 Simcox 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 astonishing 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. |