98 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



bell has a value beyond its acoustical one. The setting 

 sun has a value beyond its optical one. The starry 

 heavens, as you know, had for Immanuel Kant a value 

 beyond their astronomical one. I think it very desir- 

 able to keep this horizon of the emotions open, and . 

 not to permit either priest or philosopher to draw down 

 his shutters between you and it. Here the dead lan- 

 guages, which are sure to be beaten by science in the 

 purely intellectual fight, have an irresistible claim. 

 They supplement the work of science by exalting and 

 refining the aesthetic faculty, and must on this account 

 be cherished by all who desire to see human culture 

 complete. There must be a reason for the fascination 

 which these languages have so long exercised upon 

 powerful and elevated minds a fascination which will 

 probably continue for men of Greek and Eoman mould 

 to the end of time. 



In connection with this question one very obvious 

 danger besets many of the more earnest spirits of our 

 day the danger of haste in endeavouring to give the 

 feelings repose. We are distracted by systems of 

 theology and philosophy which were taught to us when 

 young, and which now excite in us a hunger and a 

 thirst for knowledge not proved to be attainable. 

 There are periods when the judgment ought to remain 

 in suspense, the data on which a decision might be 

 based being absent. This discipline of suspending the 

 judgment is a common one in science, but not so 

 common as it ought to be elsewhere. I walked down 

 Eegent Street some time ago with a man of great gifts 

 and acquirements, discussing with him various theo- 

 logical questions. I could not accept his views of the 

 origin and destiny of the universe, nor was I prepared 

 to enunciate any definite views of my own. He turned 

 to me at length and said, 'You surely must have a 



