The Progress of the Race 



the inevitable recoil. This progress, 

 whose existence among the most intelli- 

 gent species can scarcely be denied, has 

 perhaps no aim beyond its initial impetus, 

 and knows not whither it goes. But at 

 least, in a world where nothing save a few 

 facts of this kind indicates a precise will, 

 it is significant enough that we should see 

 certain creatures rising thus, slowly and 

 continuously ; and should the bees have 

 revealed to us only this mysterious spiral 

 of light in the overpowering darkness, 

 that were enough to induce us not to re- 

 gret the time we have given to their little 

 gestures and humble habits, which seem 

 so far away and are yet so nearly akin to 

 our grand passions and arrogant destinies. 



It may be that these things are all vain ; 

 and that our own spiral of light, no less 

 than that of the bees, has been kindled for 

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