Comment and Discussion. xi 



We will allow this to stand, and pass to another of 

 similar purport, but bearing the impress of a less passion- 

 ate mind. 



"I should fear such a gift as you, seek to confer on 

 human beings. It does not seem to me that earthly life 

 could be made of sufficient interest to give us continual 

 enjoyment for long periods; of time. The Wandering Jew 

 was but a. fiction, yet I believe it embodies tiie truth con- 

 cerning human life on^the earth. It does not seem to me that 

 the earth offers, or can ever offer, a proper theater or 

 arena for immortal life. I am therefore inclined to con- 

 sider death as a blessing instead of an evil, and that your 

 propose;! effort to ' achieve ' immortal life on the earth by 

 applied science is a mistaken one." 



The above is a thoughtful statement of a widely preva- 

 lent view of human life. It deserves an equally thought- 

 ful reply. 



It is conceded at the outset that life as the majority of 

 our race now live, is not worth prolonging far beyond the 

 pleasures of youth. Immortalizing such lives, subject to 

 all their present ills, hardships, and discouragements, 

 would be of the nature of a penalty, instead of a reward. 

 If a greater experience which came from longer life did 

 not enable them to attain a better mode of life, with fewer 

 pains and ills, immortality on the earth would be inadvis- 

 able for them. 



The earth is what we make it. The reason why the 



