148 fag S*rm0ns, <gssag8, mttr gebbtos. [vin. 



break and the fog clear. Nothing could be more inter- 

 esting to a student of biology than to see the study 

 of the biological sciences laid down, as an essential part 

 of the prolegomena of a new view of social phenomena 

 Nothing could be more satisfactory to a worshipper of 

 the severe truthfulness of science than the attempt to 

 dispense with all beliefs, save such as could brave the 

 light, and seek, rather than fear, criticism ; while, to a 

 lover of courage and outspokenness, nothing could be 

 more touching than the placid announcement on the 

 title-page of the " Discours sur TEnsemble du Positi- 

 visme," that its author proposed 



" Be"organiser, sans Dieu ni roi, 

 Par le culte systematique de rHumanite"," 



the shattered frame of modern society. 



In those days I knew my " Faust " pretty well, and, 

 after reading this word of might, I was minded to 

 chant the well-known stanzas of the " Geisterchor" 



"Web! Web! 

 Die scbone welt. 

 Sie stiirzt, sie zerfallt 

 Wir tragen 



Die Triimmern ins Mcbts hiniiber 

 Machtiger 

 Der Erdensobne 

 Pracbtiger, 

 Baue sie wieder 

 In deinem Busene baue sie auf." 



Great, however, was my perplexity, not to say disap- 

 pointment, as I followed the progress of this "mighty 

 son of earth" in his work of reconstruction. Un- 

 doubtedly "Dieu" disappeared, but the "Nouveau 

 Grand-Etre Supreme," a gigantic fetish, turned out bran- 

 new by M. Comte's own hands, reigned in his stead. 

 "Hoi" also was not heard of; but, in his place, I found 



