vii.] MUTUAL COMPETITION AND MUTUAL HELP. 175 



the inotto of the majority is, and always has been as far 

 back as we can see, what it is, and always has been, with 

 the majority of human beings : c ' Everyone for himself, 

 and the devil take the hindmost." Overreaching 

 tyranny; the temper which fawns, and clings, and plays 

 the parasite as long as it is down, and when it has 

 risen, fattens on its patron's blood and life these, and 

 the other works of the flesh, are the works of average 

 plants and animals, as far as they can practise them. 

 At least, so says at first sight the science of bio-geology; 

 till the naturalist, if he be also human and humane, is 

 glad to escape from the confusion and darkness of the 

 universal battle-field of selfishness into the order and 

 light of Christmas-tide. 



For then there comes to him the thought And are 

 these all the facts ? And is this all which the facts 

 mean ? That mutual competition is one law of Nature, 

 we see too plainly. But is there not, besides that law, 

 a law of mutual help ? True it is, as the wise man 

 has said, that the very hyssop on the wall grows there 

 because all the forces of the universe could not prevent 

 its growing. All honour to the hyssop. A brave plant, 

 it has fought a brave fight, and has its just deserts as 

 everything in Nature has and so has won. But did 

 all the powers of the universe combine to prevent it 

 growing ? Is not that a one-sided statement of facts? 

 Did not all the powers of the universe also combine to 

 make it grow, if only it had valour and worth where- 

 with to grow ? Did not the rains feed it, the very 

 mortar in the wall give lime to its roots ? Were not 

 electricity, gravitation, and I know not what of chemical 

 and mechanical forces, busy about the little plant, and 

 every cell of it, kindly and patiently ready to help it 



