154 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS [Hum 



The Human Body Constructed on Musical Principles. 



The universal disposition of human beings, from the cradle to 

 the death-bed, to express their feelings in measured cadences of 

 sound and action, proves that our bodies are constructed on 

 musical principles, and that the harmonious working of their 

 machinery depends on the movements of the several parts being 

 timed to each other, and that the destruction of health as regards 

 both body and mind may be well described as being put out of 

 tune. Our intellectual and moral vigour would be better sus- 

 tained if we more practically studied the propriety of keeping 

 the soul in harmony by regulating the movements of the body ; 

 for we should thus see and feel that every affection which is 

 not connected with social enjoyment is also destructive of indi- 

 vidual comfort, and that whatever tends to harmonise also tends 

 to promote happiness and health. u. 



An Archetype of Human Society. 



The picture of a bee-kingdom, which Shakespeare has drawn 

 in the following lines, has the precision of a naturalist, united 

 to the fancy of a poet and the wisdom of a philosopher : 



" So work the honey-bees, 

 Creatures that by a rule in Nature teach 

 The art of order to a peopled kingdom. 

 They have a king, and officers of sorts, 

 Where some, like magistrates correct at home ; 

 Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad ; 

 Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings, 

 Make loot upon the summer's velvet buds ; 

 Which pillage they with merry march bring home 

 To the tent royal of their emperor : 

 Who, busied in his majesties, surveys 

 The singing masons building roofs of gold ; 

 The civil citizen kneading up the honey ; 

 The poor mechanic-porters crowding in 

 Their heavy burthens at his narrow gate ; 

 The sad-eyed justice with his surly hum 

 Delivering o'er to executors pale 

 The lazy, yawning drone." 



B. W. 



