336 THE BTOCOSMOS PARTICULARIZED. 



descent from its start and at present exist- 

 ent). Thus the original Animal-norm may 

 be' seen manifesting itself in its uncounted 

 shapes of which we are ourselves one, just 

 that one which glances back in time and over 

 in space, and orders the whole by a universal 

 principle which strives to be harmonious with 

 that of the Universe itself. 



1. Single Generation of Animal-life. When 

 we see the one Amoeba polypodia divide with- 

 in itself and become two individuals, both be- 

 ing alive and the child not distinguishable 

 from the parent, we witness doubtless the 

 simplest form of animal Generation, that by 

 fission. What makes it divide? Such is its 

 nature, we ordinarily say, and therewith let 

 the matter drop, having swallowed a little 

 isolated fact. Still we are not satisfied, and 

 no amount of science, which stops with the 

 separated fact, however small or great this 

 may be, is going to quench our thirst for what 

 lies behind the external phenomenon and 

 causes it to appear. That tiny act of micro- 

 scopic fission is a phase of the total Universe 

 and must show itself such just in such a work 

 of separation, which in its way is creative, 

 and shares in primal creation. The microbe, 

 self-dividing and thus individuating itself, 

 not only reflects but also re-enacts the All 

 which does the same thing. The exceeding 



