SPONGES 



may hope for light, even though indirect, upon the 

 vicissitudes of their lives from birth to death. 

 When once we grasp the vital meaning of such 

 facts, we are on the track of a law which holds 

 good, not only for infant snapping shrimps, but 

 on up the ladder of life to the topmost rung, to 

 which we find ourselves clinging precariously dur- 

 ing our few years of consciousness upon this 

 planet. 



After this solemn, sonorous apodixis let the word 

 sponge bring to mind, not only the pleasantly 

 squeezable accompaniments of our bath, but the 

 wonderfully colorful race of living creatures dot- 

 ting the coral reefs of the world, much as clumps 

 of violets and marigolds brighten our terrestrial 

 gardens. 



133 



