“Faster, faster–per aspera ad astra–to the
gateways of CULTURE.”
“….Generally speaking, I wish that everything
grievous and difficult which stands ahead of me and all humanity would come to
pass more quickly, to be overcome with united spirit, and the way cleared for
rapid progress, to the fullest extent that our forces permit. Past and present,
there is so much terror in the world. I sense so many signs congregating round
about, and feel the urge to exclaim, “Faster.” More and more the impatient
spirit becomes dissatisfied. I do not know whether this is good or not.”
Thus writes a gifted and inspired co-worker of
ours. His eye, comprehending a broad horizon, notes all those accumulations
from which mankind is stifling, and he wishes to cry out “Faster!” He goes on
to say: “Greater prevalence of disease is being reported. Recently, a dentist
expressed amazement at the great number of inflammatory processes. Snow in
Paris at the end of May; in Tokyo, hail the size of a two-copeck piece. Not
long ago a simple artless countryman strongly advised an acquaintance of mine
to go to some place else, no matter where, because–his heart told him such was
necessary. Everywhere confusion.”
Not only dentist, but eye, throat and lung specialists
speak about the great quantity of inflammatory processes. Of course, heart
ailments and all sorts of tensions are attracting special attention. Our
collaborator asks if we have received a book about the Apocalypse. We have not,
but much suggestive of this period is going on all around. If we take the list
of leading articles in the daily newspaper, certainly therein are not wanting
Apocalyptic signs.
Only the definitely deaf and blind are unwilling to
see the intentness of the times. As said in the letter, here is a simple
peasant impelled to depart elsewhere. Such inadequate of the heart is always
highly indicative. All those who are more conscious of the times not only wish
to be on the move but they specifically conjure space with the cry “Faster”.
They realize that without certain absolutely processes of the abscesses, these
cannot be opened up, and the infection will only go deeper, involving the whole
organism.
The experienced surgeon, discovering the dangerous
state of an infected organism, likewise exclaims “Faster, faster” so as not to
allow the spreading of the infection. He knows, of course that if decomposition
has reached certain limits he must arrest it without delay. If a simple man
simply wants to go away somewhere, in other hearts this same dark foreboding is
expressed in a depressed frame of mind and spirit. Some have said, “Let
everything go”. But our co-worker, from the nature of his constructive
character, is not at all willing that everything be lost. Thoughtfully and wisely
he makes the appeal–“Faster, faster.” Let the operation be already a thing of
the past. Let but another possibility appear of thinking about the future and
striving towards it with strength renewed by the danger.
People fall into two types with reference to the
way they perceive manifestations of menace. One type is afraid of thunder and
lightning. Absurdly they rush to hide themselves under cushions, to stop up
their ears–anything so as not to hear these terribly beautiful discharges. The
others, on the contrary, are rapturously inflamed in spirit when the thunder
rolls and lightning flashes. At this moment they think least of all about
themselves. They have no thought as to whether or not the lightning will strike
them. But those who bury themselves in the pillows at the cosmic manifestations
have doubtless been thinking somehow about themselves, about their “precious
life.”
Picture the people of this type in battle and you
will probably see the same confusion and evasiveness. They take shelter behind
many considerations. They will say that they will not go forward because they
have not had time to decide whether it is really necessary that they subject
themselves to danger. They never arrive on time, for they will find many
reasons why they had to be late. They are quite resourceful in providing
pretexts for evading action and great deeds. Doubtless in their hearts they
will wax indignant at those circumstances which have summoned them to
achievement. Tortuous are the paths of evading all that is good. More-over the
greatest, the most sacred principles will not be spared. Since a mad man can
display extraordinary resourcefulness and endurance, since a lunatic can
traverse unharmed a narrow ledge overhanging an abyss, then too the frenzy of
fear is singularly effective in furnishing people with the same
resourcefulness.
But on the lips of these people there will not be a
single exclamation of “Faster, faster!” On the contrary, they will unearth all
sorts of pretexts for delay. Indeed, in accordance with their character, they
never recognize their own true motives. What tales and stories will be
invented, not only by way of justification, but even to asperse those who are
not afraid of lightning and who boldly callout “Faster”. This type of people,
either by their very nature or as a result of their remote past, have brought
themselves into such a state. But sometimes imitation appears, of what from
their child-hood weak-willed people have seen in life about them.
Perhaps a parent or grandparent was afraid of
storms or of any moving about. Perhaps the child saw someone muffled in a
feather bed from terror, or knew someone who considered it the greatest
misfortune to move into a new house. From childhood these ugly terrors were
making their way into the secret places of the spirit. Then if there should be
no counter-examples of brilliant courage, worthiness and fairness, very often
the weak spirit succumbs to all negative manifestations. It is simply that bad
habits have been formed.
Pushkin, even in his mature years, recalled with
gratitude his old nurse, who had related to him many beautifu1 and inspiring
tales. Over and above the story itself, such a tale carries so much of the
wondrous as to seem beyond the limits of possibility.
When it is said, “Make no doleful complaints on
account of delay” this means that delay has not really occurred but has only
seemed so to the impatient spirit. There is nothing wrong with the spirit being
impatient or good. On the contrary it is excellent. Likewise it is well to realize
that no one has a monopoly of the difficulties of life.
When someone sings out in clear prevision, “Faster,
faster,” he already knows that notwithstanding all the hard times to come he
declares himself devoted to the good of humanity. In such “faster” will not be
the despair of a sheep seeing a knife held above it; on the contrary, it will
be a lion-like onrush to achievement, which, on earth and in the super-earthly
Spheres, will respond to the same august call of daring. Song of songs, song of
the heart! Precisely in the heart is born the aspiring cry, “Faster, faster”.