Lesson Two - Definite Chief Aim / Your Desire

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A pertinent Greenland Eskimo named Langdon was asked to guide some wealthy American and European men/adventurers on a voyage to the northern tip of the island on one of the Greenland /American North Polar Expeditions.

 

Later for his faithful & honorable service as a reward he was brought to New York City for a short visit.

 

Unfortunately, he traveled solo. At all the never seen miracles of sight and the sounds he experiences he was filled with a most amazed wonder.

 

When Langdon returned to his native village he told stories of buildings that rose into the very face of the sky and of street cars which he described as big as homes and of mammoth bridges that spanned mighty rivers, artificial lights and all the other dazzling concomitants of the metropolis.

 

His people looked at him coldly with disbelief, then laughingly walked away. And forthwith throughout the whole village he was dubbed "Sagdlan" meaning "the Liar" and this name he carried in shame to his grave.... Long before his death his original name was entirely forgotten.

 

When Doctor Rasmussen made his trip from Greenland to Alaska and he was accompanied by a Greenland Eskimo named Mitek.

 

Mitek visited Copenhagen and New York where he saw many amazing things for the first time and he was greatly impressed just the same as Langdon had been.

 

Later, upon his return to Greenland he recalled the tragedy of Sagdlan and decided that it would not be wise to tell the truth.

 

Instead, he would narrate stories that his people could grasp and understand and thus save his reputation.

 

So he told them how he and the Doctor maintained a tent, fire with wood aplenty and boat on the banks of the Hudson, a great bay and river and how each morning they paddled out for their hunting. Ducks, geese and seals were to be had aplenty and they enjoyed the visit immensely.

 

Mitek, in the eyes of his countrymen, is a very honest and courageous man. His neighbors treat him with rare respect.

 

The road of the truth-teller has always been rocky

 

• Socrates sipping the hemlock,

• Christ crucified,

• Stephen stoned,

• Bruno burned at the stake,

• Galileo terrified into retraction of his starry truths

- forever could one follow that bloodly trail through the pages of history.

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Something in human nature makes us resent the impact of new ideas. We hate to be disturbed in the beliefs and prejudices that have been handed down with the family furniture.

 

At maturity too many of us go into hibernation and live off the fat of ancient fetishes.

 

If a new idea ever invades our den we rise up snarling from our winters sleep.

 

The Eskimos at least had some excuse. They were unable to visualize the startling pictures drawn by Sagdlan (Langdon). Their simple lives had been too long circumscribed by the brooding arctic night. And Langdon true excitement resembled a man "making believe".

 

But there is no adequate reason why the average man should ever close his mind to fresh "slants" on life. Sadly, he does just the same.

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Lesson Two - Definite Chief Aim / Your Desire

Page - 1.., 2.., 3.., 4.., 5.., 6.., 7.., Continue > 8.., 9.., 10..,  11.., 12.., 13.., 14.., 15...