the utter abandonment of the search for that which is
real and satisfying, is an exhibition of gross, mesmeric stupidity, to
say the least. It shows that our sense of life is awry."

"But the world is surely attempting its own betterment," protested
Haynerd.

"I grant you that," replied Hitt. "But legislation and coercion are
the wrong means to employ. They restrain, but they do not cure. They
are only narcotics."

"Oh, well, you are not going to change the race until the individual
himself changes."

"Have I disputed that?" said Hitt. "Quite the contrary, that is the
pith of my observations. Reform is a hearthside affair. And no sane
man will maintain that general reform can ever come until the
individual's needs are met--his daily, hourly, worldly needs."

"I think I get your point," said Father Waite. "It is wholly a
question of man's concept of the cause of things, himself included,
and their purpose and end, is it not?"

"Quite so," replied Hitt. "The restless spirit of the modern world is
hourly voicing its discontent with a faltering faith which has no
other basis than blind belief. It wants demonstrable fact upon which
to build. In plain words, _mankind would be better if they but knew
how_!"

"Well, we show them how," asserted Haynerd. "But they don't do as we
tell 'em."

"Are you quite sure that you show them how?" asked Hitt. "What do you
ever do toward showing them how permanently to eradicate a single
human difficulty?"

"Oh, well, putting it that way, nothing, of course."

"Quite so, my friend. The relief we afford is but temporary. And so
the world continues to wait for surcease from woe in a life beyond the
grave. But now, returning to our survey, let me say that amid all the
folly of vain pursuits, of wars and strife, of doleful living and
pitiable dying, there are more encouraging and hopeful signs hung out
to the inquiring thought to-day than ever before in history. If I
misread not, we are already entered upon changes so tremendous that
their end must be the revolutionizing of thought and conduct, and
hence of life. Our present age is one of great extremes: though we
touch the depths, we are aiming likewise at the heights. I doubt if
there ever was a time when so many sensed the nothingness of the
pleasures of the flesh. I doubt if ever there was such a quickening of
the business conscience, and such a determined desire to introduce
honesty and purity into our dealings with one another.