THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE 



it created powder and formidable weapons. It 

 filled the tiny microscopic silica shells of primi- 

 tive plants, the diatomes,* each one correspond- 

 ing to a cell with nitro-glycerin and with this 

 dynamite burst open mountains. The force of 

 the lightning before which for millions of 

 years the animal world was dispersed in frantic 

 agony, it seized and imprisoned with the firm 

 hand of the investigator and lighted with it the 

 coraHikc structure of civilization, the house, the 

 city, the ship. This heap of grey brain matter 

 that cont?7ols the ocean steamer and which this 

 iron colossus follows as obediently as the muscles 

 of a hand follow the directions of the nerves, 

 does not need to shine itself like the swarming 

 groups of cells on the shining sea wave under 

 the keel. The searchlight itself bears its sphere 

 of influence even to the most distant horizon. On 

 board there is lively activity. In the light of 

 the lamps something whizzes over-board. It 

 appears like a ball. It seems to slip out of the 

 hands. Yet something follows it downward con- 

 necting it with the ship. The ship has stopped, 

 tt lies gently swaying on the silver lighted 

 raves. Has death visited this little group of 

 people on their floating fortress; is a coffin be- 

 irig lowered.'' One gives a coffin to the everlast- 



•Dynamite was originally composed of infxisorial silica or 

 Jiatomaccous silica and nitroglycerin. The word now^ covers 

 a variety of plastic solid mixtures having nitroglycerin «0 a 



component. — Trans. 



21 



