The Eambles of an Idler 



been safer, but the obstacle was met, and how 

 far insuperable was a matter to be tested. The 

 idea of discouragement has not yet taken a 

 strong hold of even the lower forms of life. An- 

 ecdotes are endless as to the ingenuity of ani- 

 mals. They encounter as many difficulties as 

 does man and in all probability overcome a 

 far greater proportion. It is based on the as- 

 sumption that I have argued long on the impor- 

 tance of studying the habits of animals that we 

 may the better meet the exigencies of our own 

 lives. Natural history is as trustworthy a guide 

 as human history. The former is logical, and 

 a long array of facts ; but the latter is a record 

 of blunders more than of great accomplish- 

 ments, and so changeful is the world, the past 

 has but little applicability to the present. This 

 is not true of natural history. It started on 

 right lines and has not wandered far from the 

 desired direction. The long journey from pro- 

 toplasm to man was one with little loss of time 

 or energy through uncertainty of purpose or 

 vague wandering in a trackless desert ; but since 

 the goal of manhood has been reached, the floun- 

 dering nearly equals the well-directed purpose, 

 if we read history aright. 



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