HEALTH AS A DUTY 



tant personally. When we find that life 

 does not redeem its promises, that men are 

 mean, false, self-seeking, and merciless, that 

 to succeed here below you must call the lit- 

 tle great, the sham genuine, and appearance 

 reality, the heart-wrenching disillusion- 

 ment drives us to long for a world of more 

 righteous judgments and awards. Few 

 lives, and no great ones, are spared this bit- 

 terness. You strove for earthly good gold, 

 honor, position, prosperity, and enjoyment 

 and you found, like thousands before you, 

 that these objects cannot satisfy the heart. 

 You let imposing things deceive you; 

 beauty and truth you sought to gain by 

 chasing them; and now after many a long 

 and devious race you are deceived and in 

 despair. Once you marched forth to fight 

 for right and freedom, but you grew weary, 

 yielded, and made your peace with the 

 world. This disillusionment, too, impels 

 one to long for a higher life, for redemption 

 from such vanity, woe and death. Existence 

 seems illusory and cruel and the weary soul 

 cries with Goethe: 



93 



