WILD WOOL 



But we are governed more than we know, and 

 most when we are wildest. Plants, animals, 

 and stars are all kept in place, bridled along 

 appointed ways, with one another, and through 

 the midst of one another — killing and being 

 killed, eating and being eaten, in harmonious 

 proportions and quantities. And it is right 

 that we should thus reciprocally make use of 

 one another, rob, cook, and consume, to the 

 utmost of our healthy abilities and desires. 

 Stars attract one another as they are able, and 

 harmony results. Wild lambs eat as many wild 

 flowers as they can find or desire, and men 

 and wolves eat the lambs to just the same 

 extent. 



This consumption of one another in its vari- 

 ous modifications is a kind of culture varying 

 with the degree of directness with which it is 

 carried out, but we should be careful not to 

 ascribe to such culture any improving qualities 

 upon those on whom it is brought to bear. The 

 water-ouzel plucks moss from the river-bank 

 to build its nest, but it does not improve the 

 moss by plucking it. We pluck feathers from 

 birds, and less directly wool from wild sheep, 

 for the manufacture of clothing and cradle- 

 nests, without improving the wool for the sheep, 

 or the feathers for the bird that wore them. 

 When a hawk pounces upon a linnet and pro- 



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