Racial Experiejice 



ent of experience, but because they are the only 

 complete unqualified expression of It." ^ 



I believe that a straight line Is the shortest 

 path between two points. I cannot demonstrate 

 this, if you wish to deny It. But I cannot con- 

 ceive of the contrary or negation of the state- 

 ment. One good and sufficient explanation of 

 this fact Is that the Invariable experience of all 

 my ancestors from fish, or even worm, upward 

 has been that It was shorter to go straight across 

 than around. If any animals persisted In going 

 around, they failed to " get there " and did not 

 survive. This may not be the only explanation. 

 Experience may not be the sole source of knowl- 

 edge. But It Is one source, and the experience 

 of the ages becomes impressed upon the very 

 structure of the brain. 



To be axiomatic a truth must be accepted by 

 everybody except the insane and the Incapable. 

 They are not bound to accept anything, and are 

 in this sense exceedingly liberal and broad- 

 minded. Indeed, some men have such broad 

 minds that they can hold at the same time con- 

 flicting and mutually destructive views. The 



^ See Fiske, J., "Cosmic Philosophy," pp. 59, 65. 



