CHAPTER XIV 



THE GARDEN SPIDERS: THE QUESTION 

 OF PROPERTY 



A DOG has found a bone. He lies in the 

 ■* *■ shade, holding it between his paws, and 

 studies it fondly. It is his sacred property, 

 his chattel. An Epeira has woven her web. 

 Here again is property; and owning a better 

 title than the other. Favoured by chance and 

 assisted by his scent, the Dog has merely had 

 a find; he has neither worked nor paid for it. 

 The Spider is more than a casual owner, she 

 has created what is hers. Its substance issued 

 from her body, its structure from her brain. 

 If ever property was sacrosanct, hers is. 



Far higher stands the work of the weaver 

 of ideas, who tissues a book, that other 

 Spider's web, and out of his thought makes 

 something that shall instruct or thrill us. To 

 protect our 'bone,' we have the police, in- 

 vented for the express purpose. To protect 

 the book, we have none but farcical means. 

 Place a few bricks one atop the other; join 



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