NATURE A PERSON 151 



self -active electrons, self -active atoms, self -active 

 suns and planets, self-active cells, plants, animals, 

 men, and groups and nations of men — as England 

 is made up of the land of England and all that 

 springs therefrom, including the Englishmen them- 

 selves. Nature thinks and feels and strives as 

 England thinks and feels and strives. And Nature 

 cares for her children as England looks after her 

 sons. It is often said, indeed, that Nature is hard 

 and cruel. But it is only through the unfailing 

 regularity and reliability of her fundamental laws — 

 of her "constitution" — that freedom and progress 

 are possible. If we could not depend upon perfect 

 law we could make no advance whatever. We 

 should all be abroad and uncertain. Yet in spite 

 of her unbending rigidity over fundamentals, she 

 does also show mercy and pity. A child toddling 

 along downhill unregardf ul of the force of gravitation 

 falls on its face and screams with pain. But Nature, 

 represented by the mother, rushes up, seizes the 

 little thing in her arms, presses it lovingly to her 

 bosom, rocks it and coaxes it and covers it with 

 kisses. 



So if Nature can think and feel and strive and 

 show mercy and loving-kindness, she is entitled to 

 the dignity of personality. And when we stand 

 back and regard Nature as a whole, we shall look 

 upon her as a Person and nothing less. 



We have now to understand what is meant by 

 saying that Nature is a Person actuated by a hidden 

 ideal and being in process of realising that ideal. 

 When travelling across the Gobi Desert I found a 



