anti 



ineptitude can not possibly be fortifying. Our 

 mental and physical faculties were made for use, 

 and, the great scheme of evolution shows us, for 

 development also not for abuse, though, be it 

 clearly understood. But to discuss in this chap- 

 ter the immense advantage to be gained by the 

 exercise of moderation would lead me too far 

 away. I may come back to it later on if some- 

 thing else in the course of these scattered 

 thoughts suggests the subject to me again. 



What I have never understood is why we are 

 always taught that Adam and Eve were turned 

 out of the Garden of Eden because they ate of 

 the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and 

 evil, and were thus guilty of disobedience.. I 

 find every one I have questioned has been so 

 taught, and that there has been nothing unusual 

 in my instruction; but in vain have I sought 

 a satisfactory reply to my demand for authority. 

 The ground was cursed, and our disobedient 

 first parents were cursed for having eaten of the 

 fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; 

 but that was not the direct ground of their ban- 

 ishment from the garden, the reason very clearly 

 25 



