i SKINS THE GREAT SECRET 49 



purely physical view of the beginnings 

 of life. Their own genesis is obvious. 

 It is true that all or nearly all organisms 

 have a skin. Most if not all of them 

 begin, so far as seen by us, in a 

 nucleated cell. The external wall of 

 these cells is often a mere pellicle. It 

 is true also that one essential idea of 

 life is separation or segregation from 

 all other things. This is an essential 

 part of our ideas of individuality and 

 of personality. If a pellicle or skin 

 round a bit of protein be taken as the 

 symbol of all that is involved in this 

 idea of life, then " outness " and " inness " 

 may be tolerated as a very rude image 

 of one of the great peculiarities of all 

 organic life. It may even be regarded 

 as a symbol of the thoughts expressed 

 in the solemn lines 



Eternal form shall still divide 

 The eternal soul from all beside. 

 E 



