COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



And thus, in many ways, we extract profit and 

 gratification from that which is ugly and nox- 

 ious ; as the refuse of gas-works and the drain- 

 ings of stables, when dealt with by the chemist, 

 yield rich dyes and delicate perfumes. 



Thus, as science advances. Nature is better 

 understood. As art progresses, she inflicts less 

 pain and bestows more pleasure. Once hated as 

 an enemy, she is at last revered as a benefactor. 

 Gradually it comes to be perceived that all pain 

 arises from disregard of her wisely framed ordi- 

 nances ; and that, by conformity to those ordi- 

 nances, pain may ultimately be avoided. Where 

 the ancient man saw nothing but capricious vo- 

 lition, the modern man beholds force acting by 

 invariable methods. The former knew not that 

 the pain under which he was writhing resulted 

 from a violation of Nature's edicts, and he sought 

 to prevent its recurrence by sacrifice and suppli- 

 cation. The latter knows that Nature's com- 

 mandments are not to be broken. He knows 

 that to their infringement there is attached an 

 inevitable penalty, — that misery will follow dis- 

 obedience, the first time, the second time, every 

 time ; and he therefore learns to obey. Matter 

 does not put off its resistance to save from 

 broken bones ; the stomach does not stop di- 

 gesting, that poison may be innocuous ; the law 

 which couples imprudent exposure with bron- 

 chitis and pneumonia will not cease to operate, 

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