Editorials from the Hearst Newspapers | Page 8

To them the earth, then incandescent,
blazing with the heat that now reveals itself through volcanoes, was
simply a whirling ball of fire, put in its place to warm them.
They could no more think that men would ever come to live here than
we can now think of moving on to the sun. ----
In course of time this earth cooled off. It cooled so thoroughly that the
moon died of cold. Life could no longer continue there.
The dead satellite's destiny thenceforward was to show gratitude for
past heat by moving our tides and cheering our poets. As life died out
on the cold moon which had given us temporary hospitality, life sprang
into being on this planet, now fitted to support it.
Here, on a larger sphere, with greater opportunities, mankind is
growing, and will far outstrip all that it could have done on the poor
little moon.
Meanwhile, as we struggle on, improving slowly, the sun, as science
proves, is cooling off in its turn. The flames become less fierce as the
thousands of centuries roll by. When we shall have developed as much
as possible on this limited planet, our home will be cooled and ready on
the sun, centre of our life in this corner of space.
We shall move up a step--as boys do in the public schools. We shall

have been moon men, earth men, and shall graduate into sun men.
Think of a home so vast! On that grand star we shall lead lives worth
while, and justify Huxley's belief that men exist somewhere compared
to whom we should "be as black beetles compared to us."
The excitement of meeting our brothers from other planets as they
move up to the sun in batchcs will be great.
WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING'S SYMPHONY
THE THOUGHT--
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and
wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with
open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently,
await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden
and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony.
WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING.
TO LIVE CONTENT WITH SMALL MEANS.
This means to realize to the full the possibilities of life. Contentment
means ABSENCE OF WORRY. It is only when free from worry that
the brain can act normally, up to its highest standard. The man content
with small means does his best work, devotes his energies to that which
is worth while, and not to acquiring that which has no value.
TO SEEK ELEGANCE RATHER THAN LUXURY.
The difference between elegance and luxury is the difference between
the thin, graceful deer, browsing on the scanty but sufficient forest
pasture, and the fat swine revelling in plentiful garbage.
REFINEMENT RATHER THAN FASHION.
The difference between refinement and fashion is the difference
between brains and clothing, the difference between an Emerson or a
Huxley and a Beau Brummel or other worthless but elaborately decked
carcass.
TO BE WORTHY, NOT RESPECTABLE.
In other words, to be like Henry George, and not like the owner of a
trust.
WEALTHY, NOT RICH.
The man who has a good wife and good children, enough to take care
of them, but not enough to spoil them, is WEALTHY. He is happier
than the man who is RICH enough to be worried, rich enough to make

it certain that his children will be ruined by extravagance, and perhaps
live to be ashamed of him.
TO LISTEN TO STARS AND BIRDS, BABES AND SAGES, WITH
OPEN HEART.
This means to enjoy the noblest gifts that God has given to man. He is
happy who takes more pleasure in a beautiful sunset than in the sight of
a flunky with powdered hair, artificial calves and lofty manners,
handing him something indigestible on a plate of gold.
TO STUDY HARD; TO THINK QUIETLY, ACT FRANKLY, TALK
GENTLY.
To exercise in this way the brain that is given to us is to lead the life of
a MAN, a life of self-control, a life that is worth while, that leads to
something and helps forward the improvement of the race.
In the words which we have quoted at the top of this column William
Henry Channing has given a recipe for wise living. ----
WHO WAS CHANNING?
He was a good man, and a wise man. He was one of the most eloquent
clergymen ever born in this country, and as sincere a friend of
individual man and of the race in general as ever lived.
He was an enthusiast and an optimist--admirable combination.
He was born in 1810, and died in 1884. His biography has been written
by Octavius B. Frothingham.