CHAPTER XII 



SOME ANOMALIES 



'HE anomalous is that which forms an 

 exception to the rule, which again is 

 based upon an aggregate of concordant facts. 

 An insect has six legs, each ending in a 

 finger. That is the rule. Why six legs and 

 not some other number? Why one finger 

 and not several? Such questions are so ob- 

 viously inane that they do not even occur to 

 our minds. The rule exists because it does 

 exist; we note it and that is all. We remain 

 in blissful ignorance of the reason for its 

 existence. 



Anomalies, on the other hand, make us 

 uncomfortable and upset all our ideas. Why 

 should there be exceptions, irregularities, 

 contradictions of the letter of the law? 

 Does the sign-manual of disorder leave its 

 imprint here and there? Is the shriek of 

 crazy discord heard amid the general har- 

 mony? This is a weighty question; and we 

 should do well to look into it a little, though 

 255 



