BONES AND JOINTS OF THE EXTREMITIES 51 



before the creation of human beings to inhabit 

 the earth, are opened to our contemplation. 



OF STANDING 



This may appear to some a very simple inquiry, 

 and yet it is very ignorant to suppose that it is 

 so. The subject has been introduced in this 

 fashion : " Observe these men engaged in rais- 

 ing a statue to its pedestal with the contrivances 

 of pulleys and levers, and how they have placed 

 it on the pedestal and are soldering it to keep it 

 steady, lest the wind should blow it down. This 

 statue has the fair and perfect proportions of the 

 human body; to all outward appearance it ought 

 to stand." 



In the following passage, we have the same 

 idea thrown out in a manner which we are apt to 

 call French. Were a man cast on a desert shore, 

 and there to find a beautiful statue of marble, 

 he would naturally exclaim, " Without doubt, 

 there have been inhabitants here : I recognize the 

 hand of a famous sculptor : I admire the delicacy 

 with which he has proportioned all the members 

 of the body to give them beauty, grace, and ma- 

 jesty, to indicate the motion and expression of 

 life.' 5 But it may be asked, what would such a 

 man think if his companion were to say, " Not 

 at all, no sculptor made this statue ; it is formed, 

 to be sure, in the best taste, and according to the 



