THE FAITH OF A NATURALIST 



army, the whole, may live; so in the strife and com- 

 petition of nature, the separate units fall that the 

 mass may prosper. 



It is probably true that in the course of the bio- 

 logical history of the earth, whole species have been 

 rendered extinct by parasites, or by changing out- 

 ward conditions. But this has been the exception, 

 and not the rule. The chestnut blight now seems to 

 threaten the very existence of this species of tree in 

 this country, but I think the chances are that this 

 fungus will meet with some natural check. 



In early summer comes the June drop of apples. 

 The trees start with more fruit than they can carry, 

 and if they are in vigorous health, they will drop 

 the surplus. It is a striking illustration of Nature's 

 methods. The tree does its own thinning. But if not 

 at the top of its condition, it fails to do this. It takes 

 health and strength simply to let go; only a living 

 tree drops its fruit or its leaves; only a growing man 

 drops his outgrown opinions. 



If we put ourselves in the place of the dropped 

 apples, we must look upon our fate as unmixed evil. 

 If we put ourselves in the place of the tree and of 

 the apples that remain on it, the June drop would 

 appear an unmixed good — finer fruit, and a health- 

 ier, longer-lived tree results. Nature does not work 

 so much to specific as to universal ends. The indi- 

 vidual may go, but the type must remain. The ranks 

 may be decimated, but the army and its cause must 



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