Allthiscallsforthanenormousquantityofactivity，andcausesAmericanlifetoassumetheaspectofalife-and-deathstruggleformasteryoverthematerialforcesofthatpartoftheearth’ssurfaceuponwhichitthrives。
ItisthusthatwearetraversingwhatmayproperlybecalledtheBARBAROUSepochofourhistory，——theepochatwhichthepredominantintellectualactivityisemployedinachievementswhicharemainlyofamaterialcharacter。Militarybarbarism，ortheinabilityofcommunitiestolivetogetherwithoutfrequentwarfare，hasbeennearlyoutgrownbythewholeWesternworld。
Privatewars，longsincemadeeverywhereillegal，havenearlyceased；andpublicwars，oncecontinual，havebecomeinfrequent。
Butindustrialbarbarism，bywhichImeantheinabilityofacommunitytodirectaportionofitstimetopurposesofspirituallife，afterprovidingforitsphysicalmaintenance，——thiskindofbarbarismthemodernworldhasbynomeansoutgrown。To-day，thegreatworkoflifeistolive；whiletheamountoflabourconsumedinlivinghasthroughoutthepresentcenturybeenrapidlyincreasing。NearlythewholeofthisAmericancommunitytoilsfromyouthtooldageinmerelyprocuringthemeansforsatisfyingthetransientwantsoflife。
Ourtimeandenergies，ourspiritandbuoyancy，arequiteusedupinwhatiscalled“gettingon。“