COPERNICUS 



HEN a prominent member of Congress, 

 of slightly convivial turn, went to sleep 

 on the floor of the House of Represen- 

 tatives, and suddenly awakening, con- 

 vulsed the assemblage by loudly de- 

 manding, "Where am I at?" he pro- 

 pounded an inquiry that is indisputably 

 a classic. 



With the very first glimmering of intel- 

 ligence, and as far back as history goes, 

 man has always asked that question, 

 also three others : 

 Where am I ? 

 Who am I ? 

 What am I here for ? 

 Where am I going ? 



A question implies a reply, and so, co- 

 eval with the questioner, we find a class 

 of Volunteers springing into being, who 

 have taken upon themselves the busi- 

 ness of answering the interrogations. 

 And as partial payment for answering 

 these questions, the man who answered 

 has exacted a living from the man who 

 asked, also titles, honors, gauds, jewels 

 and obsequies. Further than this, the 

 Volunteer who answered has declared 

 himself exempt from all useful labor. 

 Q Walt Whitman has said: 



