NUMBER X 

 THE CIRCULATION OF MATTER 



WE have ceased to wonder at the circulation 

 of the blood in our body ; have we begun 

 to wonder enough at the ceaseless circulation of 

 matter in the system of nature ? The rain falls ; 

 the springs are fed ; the streams are filled and flow 

 to the sea ; the mist rises from the deep and the 

 clouds are formed, which break again on the moun- 

 tain-side. The plant captures air, water, and salts, 

 and, with the sun's help, builds them up into the 

 bread of life. The animal eats the plant and a 

 new story begins. All flesh is in the long run 

 transformed grass. The animal becomes part of 

 another animal, and another chapter of the story 

 begins. The silver cord of the bundle of life is 

 loosed, and earth returns to earth. The microbes 

 of decay break down the dead animal, and there is 

 a return to air and water and salts. We may be 

 sure that nothing real is ever lost, neither of matter 

 nor of energy ; we may be sure that all things flow. 

 Like Penelope in the Greek story, Nature is con- 

 tinually unravelling her web and making a fresh 

 start. 



65 E 



