OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



ness, Uncle, that after this I sha'n't be able to meet 

 a goose without blushing.'' 



"It is very praiseworthy to blush at one's igno- 

 rance, ' ' his uncle assured him, ' ' especially on a sub- 

 ject as necessary as geography; for it is a sign that 

 in future one will do one's best ; but none may expect 

 to rival the goose. We acquire our knowledge by 

 reflection, study, observation, experience ; an animal 

 does not acquire knowledge, it possesses knowledge 

 from its birth. Without ever having learned it, 

 without ever having, seen it done, it does everything 

 belonging to its manner of living, and does it admi- 

 rably well. A feeling not reasoned, a secret impulse 

 proper to its nature, guides it in its acts; it is in- 

 stinct, the marvels of which I have often related to 

 you. If, to accomplish its astonishing journeys, the 

 goose had to learn geography as we do, it would 

 never see its beloved native land again; but it has 

 as guide the infallible inspiration of instinct, and 

 with this inner compass it wings its unerring way 

 straight toward its natal islet, however hidden by 

 polar fogs that islet may be. 



"Its manner of traveling is not less remarkable. 

 I have already told you something about the duck ; 

 I come back to the subject in order to emphasize 

 the high degree of mechanical science possessed by 

 the goose. A bird on the wing is held up by the 

 air which its wings strike ; it is also impeded in its 

 progress by the air, the resistance of which it must 

 conquer. To overcome this obstacle with the least 



