7O THE MYSTERY OF LIFE. 



any organism in this world, they might have 

 some excuse for the very positive statements 

 they make about the physical theory of life. 

 But they have not explained these things, and 

 they know they are not to be explained by 

 physics. 



People are beginning to doubt whether, after 

 all, living things are really so like machines and 

 crystals and physical bases, and complex albu- 

 minoid matters in a state of rapid chemical 

 change, as they have been led by the disciples 

 of the new philosophy to believe them to be. 

 And people are also beginning to doubt if those 

 who have spoken so positively on the physical 

 side really know much more than any one else 

 knows about the nature of life ; although, from 

 their very decided manner, it was natural to 

 believe they possessed very peculiar and perfect 

 knowledge of the secret. 



Whether the physical theory of life would 

 have resisted much better the "furious on- 

 slaughts " that have been made against it, if 

 some other course had been pursued, is a matter 

 of opinion ; but it is quite certain that some of 

 the strongest supporters of the doctrine are 

 modifying their views, and are preparing to 



