70 FEAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



crust consist for the most part of substances whose atoms 

 have already closed in chemical union whose mutual 

 attractions are satisfied. Granite, for instance, is a 

 widely diffused substance ; but granite consists, in great 

 part, of silicon, oxygen, potassium, calcium, and alu- 

 minum, whose atoms united long ago, and are there- 

 fore dead. Limestone is composed of carbon, oxygen, 

 and a metal called calcium, the atoms of which have 

 already closed in chemical union, and are therefore 

 finally at rest. In this way we might go over nearly the 

 whole of the materials of the earth's crust, and satisfy 

 ourselves that though they were sources of power in ages 

 past, and long before any creature appeared on the earth 

 capable of turning their power to account, they are 

 sources of power no longer. And here we might halt for 

 a moment to remark on that tendency, so prevalent in 

 the world, to regard everything as made for human use. 

 Those who entertain this notion, hold, I think, an over- 

 weening opinion of their own importance in the system 

 of nature. Flowers bloomed before men saw them, and 

 the quantity of power wasted before man could utilise 

 it is all but infinite compared with what now remains. 

 We are truly heirs of all the ages ; but as honest men 

 it behoves us to learn the extent of our inheritance, 

 and as brave ones not to whimper if it should prove 

 less than we had supposed. The healthy attitude of 

 mind with reference to this subject is that of the poet, 

 who, when asked whence came the rhodora, joyfully 

 acknowledged his brotherhood with the flower 



Why thou wert there, rival of the rose ! 



I never thought to ask, I never knew, 



But in my simple ignorance supposed 



The self -same power that brought me there brought you. 1 



A few exceptions to the general state of union of 

 1 Emerson. 



