THE SECRET? 503 



our perturbation comes from inward opinions about them." 

 John Duncan followed this true principle of selection in 

 seeking his pleasures, and used the lower things, which most 

 of us are so apt to value too much and for themselves, as 

 materials for higher joys. This seems a commonplace in 

 morals, but none the less is it the only means of becoming 

 possessed of that highest alchemy " that turns all it touches 

 into gold," and by which, as Dryden sings, " all great souls 

 still make their own content." Duncan seemed to deny 

 himself very much that most think necessary even for 

 comfort ; but it was for better gains, which he certainly won. 

 There lies the whole problem in a nutshell in selection, 

 in the wise choice of our pleasures. 



Another element in John's happiness was the special 

 nature of the higher pleasures he pursued his study of 

 Natural Science. The cultural and educative value of the 

 sciences connected with external nature, when rightly 

 studied, is surpassed by none ; they exercise, so healthily 

 and fully, such a wide range of the perceptive and reflec- 

 tive faculties, and, where broadly studied, the moral and 

 aesthetic, while energising and strengthening the physical, 

 in a way that promotes general mental and bodily health 

 and imparts a high degree of deep and quiet enjoyment. 

 In John Duncan's case, delight in these pursuits rose to 

 an intense and beautiful enthusiasm, if not to the absorb- 

 ing power of a passion. Nothing could excel the pure 

 devotion with which he followed the study of flowers 

 amidst penury and misunderstanding, enduring unusual 

 privation, undertaking remarkable self-imposed toil, and 

 traversing for their sake the whole country, in a way which 

 brought him into contact with strange society but which 



