64 HIDDEN BEAUTIES OF NATURE 



pounds. These particular forms are dredged up in 

 the Pacific, off the coast of Japan. 



The artistic proportions, the harmonious symmetry, 

 and the elegant outlines of the ' Venus's flower 

 basket ' cannot be the result of accident or coinci- 

 dences. How can the thousands of cells arrange 

 among themselves when certain flinty rods are to 

 take this or that direction ? Is there a general 

 agreement among all the microscopic particles of 

 sarcode as to how their wonderfully latticed frame- 

 work is to be a certain width, height and curvature ? 

 Have they the power of counting ? For a certain 

 number of glass bars must be across here and 

 another number there, else this 'basket' would be 

 unlike that which is growing a few feet away. If 

 not, if there be no understood agreement between all 

 the minute parts of the organism, there must be some 

 vital principle which controls every movement in the 

 creature's life, otherwise the structure would be with- 

 out beauty and symmetry. ' It is growth,' we are 

 told ; but growth depends upon life. What is life, 

 and who gives it ? 



These questions apply with equal force to the 

 growth of the sweet-scented flower, to the beautiful 

 bird, the gauzy-winged butterfly, and more especially 

 to ourselves. For of all the Creator's works, man 

 seems in his organization to be the culmination of all 

 wonders. And if that pervading influence we call 

 life, and other influences imparted to man alone not 

 shared by jelly-speck, by flower, or by bird be not 



