The Question of Property 301 



Morality is satisfied; but let us not con- 

 gratulate the Spider therefore. If the invader 

 respects the invaded, it is because very serious 

 reasons impel her. First, she would have to 

 contend with an adversary ensconced in a 

 stronghold whose ambushes are unknown to 

 the assailant. Secondly, the web, if conquered, 

 would be inconvenient to use, because of the 

 lime-threads, possessing a different degree of 

 stickiness from those which she knows so well. 

 To risk one's skin for a thing of doubtful value 

 were twice foolish. The Spider knows this 

 and forbears. 



But let the Banded Epeira, deprived of her 

 web, come upon that of one of her kind or of the 

 Silky Epeira, who works her gummy twine in 

 the same manner : then discretion is thrown 

 to the winds ; the owner is fiercely ripped open 

 and possession taken of the property. 



Might is right, says the beast ; or, rather, it 

 knows no right. The animal world is a rout of 

 appetites, acknowledging no other rein than 

 impotence. Mankind, alone capable of emerg- 

 ing from the slough of the instincts, is bringing 

 equity into being, is creating it slowly as its 



