100 YEARS APART

APPROXIMATELY 140 YEARS AGO, HENRY ADAMS MADE A FEW PRESCIENT OBSERVATIONS: IN 1856, THE "ABSENCE OF ENTHUSIASM WAS ALL THAT HARVARD COLLEGE TAUGHT." IN 1858, IN BERLIN, "APART FROM DISCIPLE, ACTIVITY SCARCELY EXISTED." IN 1860, "FRANCE WAS NOT SERIOUS." IN 1861, "CURIOUSLY," THE ENGLISH HAD A "WAY OF GETTING BEHIND A STUPIDITY."

TODAY, A ROCK AND POP MUSIC CRITIC SUMMED UP AMERICA WHEN HE SAID, THE "BABY BOOMERS' MYTH IS THAT "SGT. PEPPER'S (LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND BY THE BEATLES) IS "ROCK'S HIGH POINT."

FORTUNATELY FOR THE CIVILIZED, THIS STATEMENT ABOUT THE 1960'S IS A MYTH. HENRY ADAM'S REFLECTIONS AROUND 1860 ARE TRUE. HUMOR ONLY ADDS SWEETNESS TO HIS ENLIGHTENED WORDS. SADNESS ACCENTS ANYTHING ABOUT THE PATHETIC PERVERSIONS OF THE 1960'S 'REVOLUTION.'