Div] AND SYMBOLS. 93 



representative system is observed in regard to many other 

 important vegetable principles. In this manner then the 

 difficulties interposed by climate to the wide distribution over 

 the globe of some of the most valuable products of the vegetable 

 kingdom have been entirely surmounted. According to the 

 laws regulating the vegetable kingdom, it was impossible for 

 the same useful plants to flourish everywhere ; but Providence 

 created duplicates, as it were, to yield abundantly the same pro- 

 ducts, and adapted them by their constitution to take up their 

 position in the different climatic belts of the world, in order 

 that no extensive region should be without them. There is an 

 endless diversity of form but unity of benefit. The form is 

 not of any importance, but the food, of course, is essential. If 

 we turn to the human world we shall see the same principle 

 illustrated in politics, in religion, and in institutions. It is 

 necessary that men should have some government, but the form 

 of it must depend upon local conditions, and, therefore, will 

 be republican, monarchical, or tribal, according to exigencies. 

 They must have religion, but its forms are protean, and grow 

 according to the necessities and aspirations of nations. They 

 must have dress and speech, but whether broadcloth or linen, 

 whether English or Arabic, will depend upon zone. In an 

 infinite diversity of forms we obtain all our important blessings. 



BE. 



Diversity Concealed by Resemblance. 



The resemblance between two objects may be so striking as 

 to blind our eyes to the diversity which, on inspection, may be 

 found to be more striking than the resemblance. For instance, 

 if we compare the buffalo with our common cow, no two 

 animals can be more nearly alike either in their form or their 

 nature ; both equally submissive to the yoke, both often living 

 under the same roof, and employed in the same domestic 

 services ; the make and the turn of their bodies so much alike 

 that it requires a close attention to distinguish them, and yet, 

 after all this, no two animals can be more distinct, or seem to 

 have stronger antipathies to each other. A. 



