THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE 



through a grotesque giant animal rising out of 

 the purple deep. 



The thick trellis work of the sea-weed sepa- 

 rates itself in wider meshes. Just as above, a 

 flock of white parrots leaves the cover of the 

 forest and presses forth into the open, so here, 

 in this soundless world, the slow flowing flight 

 in the crystal medium, of the flower like vari- 

 colored shining medusae forms a girdle to the 

 ocean forest. In endless rows these medusae press 

 outward. The beautiful pearl chain may ex- 

 tend out into the open sea for thirty-seven miles, 

 decking the upper surface of the blue mirror 

 with at least two hundred and twenty-five mil- 

 lion individuals. They are the true butterflies 

 of the water-world that like the common white 

 butterfly unite themselves and sail along in 

 numberless flocks. Just as our light soaring 

 butterfly is enticed to the blooming pastures, so 

 this swimmer of the free blue ocean depth, light 

 and blue as the depth itself, gradually leaves 

 the sea-weed forest for the open. Strong and 

 clear is the glow of the sun from above. Now 

 it begins to warm the water, it is as warm as 

 the vibrating air over a summer meadow and 

 there lies the meadow, a sea meadow in the un- 

 disturbed light of the clear crystal surface, — 

 a flower meadow of lavish gorgeousness. 



Imagine ourselves for a moment far from 

 here in a high mountain. A stiffs blue Ice stream, 

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