Analogies Concerning Life 151 



Even so a villager, picked out as a recruit 

 and sent to the seat of war, may serve his 

 country, may gain experience, acquire a 

 soul and a width of horizon such as he had 

 not dreamt of ; and when he returns, after 

 the war is over, may be merged as before 

 in his native village. But the village is 

 the richer for his presence, and his in- 

 dividuality or personality is not really 

 lost ; though to the eye of the world, which 

 has no further need for it, it has practically 

 ceased to be. 



