GROWTH OF IDEAS 293 



to further and more bitter attacks in certain 

 quarters. His only reply was to bring out the 

 first numbers of a fine illustrated work a work 

 that came from a quite different depth of his 

 rich personality. This was the Art-forms in 

 Nature [not translated], a collection of beautiful 

 forms of radiolaria, sponges, siphonophores, &c., 

 for artists and admirers of the beautiful. It was a 

 work such as he alone could produce. " In the 

 storm didst thou begin : in the storm shalt thou 

 end," he might have said to himself, in the words 

 of David Strauss. The storm never left him. In 

 its mood was flung off with ready pen the Biddle 

 of the Universe. " Up, old warrior, gird thy 

 loins!" as we read in Strauss. 



* * 



* 



The biographical sketch of a living man does not 

 close with a stroke, but with three stars. They 

 glow still, these stars. Under their influence much 

 may yet happen much struggle, much peace. 

 In view of the general situation of our time there is 

 little hope that the last stretch of this extra- 

 ordinary career will be spent in peace, though 

 behind it all lies the peace-loving soul of an 

 artist. But if Haeckel's career is to be one of 

 struggle to the last hour, he may console him- 

 self with the noble words of Goethe : 



" And when at length the long gray lashes fall 

 A gentle light will broaden o'er the scene, 

 In whose effulgence our remoter sons 

 Will read the lineaments of yonder stars, 

 And in the loftier view to which they rise 

 Of God and man a loftier image hold." 



