THE LAMP OF EXPERIENCE. 871 



ideal animal form and call it into life through 

 a profound knowledge of Nature's intricate and 

 hidden laws, the greatest sculptor is a mere 

 mechanic. There is no higher form of art than 

 that which deals with the intelligent manipula- 

 tion of animal life; the modeling of living, 

 breathing creatures in accordance with the will 

 and purpose of. a guiding mind. It rises in its 

 boundless possibilities to heights that are fairly 

 God-like. It sounds the depths of the pro- 

 foundest mysteries of physical existence, verg- 

 ing on the borders of the Infinite itself. The 

 world of human endeavor presents no nobler 

 field of action, no realm of thought demanding 

 a higher order of ability. And yet how many of 

 those who assume the responsibility of marring 

 or making these wondrous creations of flesh 

 and blood approach the work with any 

 adequate preparation or appreciation of the 

 real breadth and depth of the propositions with 

 which they will have to deal? It is not a task 

 to be lightly undertaken, if one means to deal 

 fairly by the helpless forms confided to his 

 care. If we could but impress this thought in- 

 delibly upon the minds of those who engage in 

 this most fascinating pursuit there would be 

 more noble creations and fewer wrecks along 

 the paths of the stock breeding of the future 

 than in the past. Failure to grasp the funda- 

 mental idea that the breeder's calling entails 



