PREFACE xiii 



elaborates, without competing with the earth, the 

 seed, gluten, albumen, sugar, and fat, utilising for 

 the purpose the living force of the solar ray or some 

 form of natural energy ; when leisure well earned 

 permits the universalisation of science and art, and 

 all can taste the ineffable harmonies and beauties 

 that palpitate in the lap of Nature ; when, in fine, 

 redeemed by solidarity and love, we all feel within 

 us the waves of one and the same vital current, 

 sister-cells of the same body, what meaning 

 will attach to the words " rich and poor," " master 

 and slave," " happy and unfortunate " ? What will 

 it matter then that love multiplies the species 

 without end, or that a blazing sky and a barren 

 earth are niggard of their gifts? Full of energy 

 and alertness to take action against all kinds of 

 cosmic accidents, there will be the human brain, 

 exalted by its faithful adaptation to the mechanism 

 of the world, generously offering us new and saving 

 inventions. Ours, too, will be the treasure of the 

 inextinguishable solar ray, which science, emanci- 

 pated perhaps from our old, worn-out nurse, the 

 earth, will be able to turn and adapt to the produc- 

 tion of shining fruits and golden ears. Who fears 

 the exhaustion of the solar force, of the movement 

 of the wind, and of the seas, of the cataracts of 

 the mountain gorges, of the sovereign power of 

 thought ? 



