164 habits 0/ attention and ohser'vation. Aug. 7. 



FRAGMENTS BY LORD BACON. 



Art of life ^ in habits of attention and observation^ 



For the Bee. 



Continued from p 98. 



* * * » vV HEN reason, industry, and experience, 

 build upon nature, we may expect Pyramids ; but 

 where the foundation is artificial, nothing that is great 

 or durable. 



Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, sel- 

 dom extinguifhed. 



Force makes nature more violent in tTie rebound 

 from constraint ; long custom only doth alter and sub- 

 due it to the reasonable and social purposes of life, which 

 is mainly visible in getting, keeping, and quickening 

 the habitudes of observation and attention, which 

 rise more sure and orderly from the nature of man 

 and from time, than from pedantick institution. 



Touching our early years, we do not rightly ap- 

 pretiate the wisdom of God in giving unto chil- 

 dren the insatiable love of variety, and of handling 

 and examining every thing that is subjected unto their 

 view. 



It is th^n that the human microcosm is rising out 

 ofci.aos, and that the spirit of curiosity sits brood- 

 ing upon the face of the deep, to bring forth the in- 

 finite variety of the human nature ; and this grand 

 operation, though it may be somewhat directed by 



