6 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



the truth. But though we know that in all probability the 

 problem is insoluble to our finite faculties, though we know that 

 we must fail under all existing conditions to reach the life source, 

 there is a wonderful fascination in even approaching it, and in 

 scrutinizing in its beginnings the mystery which afterwards 

 passes through such infinitely varied phases, and culminates at 

 last in that transcendent marvel conscious intelligence. There 

 is a little poem of Tennyson's which you will at once re- 

 member : — 



Flower in the crannied wall 



I pluck you out of the crannies ; 



Hold you here, root and all, in my hand 



Little flower — but if I could understand 



What you are, root and all, and all in all 



I should know what God and man is. 



We have been apt to smile at that, and treat it as so much 

 poetical hyperbole. But it is true notwithstanding. We cannot 

 understand what the little fiower is, for it involves the mystery 

 of life ; and though modern science is unlocking " door by door 

 of mystery," we are nevertheless convinced that each unlocking 

 will but reveal a vista of vaster mysteries beyond. 



You will remember that so profound a philosopher as 

 Herbert Spencer has reminded us in his " First Principles " 

 that of necessity explanation must eventually bring us down to 

 the inexplicable, the deepest truth we can get at must be 

 unaccountable ; comprehension must be something other than 

 comprehension before the ultimate fact can be comprehended. 



Yet, even while the recognition of these limitations fills us 

 with humility, we cannot resist the overmastering temptation of 

 getting as near as we may to the threshold of the unknowable. 

 We know that our quest is a struggle against the infinite, but 

 the very attempt is an elevating eftbrt, which leaves him who 

 makes it with broader views and higher thoughts and nobler 

 aims. 



You sit down to your microscope some evening and place on 

 its stage a drop of water from some favourable locality. You 

 see disclosed to your scrutiny a new world of life and beauty 

 before undreamed of ; but you must be blind for awhile to all 

 the seemingly more striking objects in the field of view and con- 

 centrate your attention upon a certain insignificant jelly-like 

 patch (Atmcha), which is attached to the cover-glass; which 



