PREFACE. 



THE tendencies of our realistic civilization make it 

 evident that the study of natural science is destined to 

 supersede the mystic scholasticism of the Middle Ages, 

 and I believe that the standards of entertaining literature 

 will undergo a corresponding change. The Spirit of 

 Naturalism has awakened from its long slumber. 



A year after the birth of the Emperor Tiberius, says 

 Plutarch, a Grecian trading-vessel sailed along the coast 

 of ^Etolia in the Gulf of Patras, and when the sun went 

 down the crew assembled at the helm to while away the 

 night with songs and stories. The night was calm, and 

 some of the sailors had already fallen asleep, when they 

 heard from the coast a loud voice calling the name of 

 their steersman, Thamus. They were all struck dumb 

 with amazement, but at the third call Thamus manned 

 himself and answered with a loud mariner's shout. 



"O Thamus," the voice called again, "when you 

 reach the heights of Palodes announce that the great 

 Pan is dead !" 



Four hours later, when the moonlit hills of Palodes 



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