To Mountain Tarn 



defective, by reason of weakness. Ours is the 

 good old rule, the simple plan that they may take 

 who have the power. We are an aggressive 

 race. We have really no other right to do any- 

 thing of the kind, no right but might. No right 

 but the weapons we have been able to make, and 

 the excuses we have been able to frame. We do 

 a thing and then include it in a decalogue, shift 

 the responsibility elsewhere. We may assume 

 a virtue, but certainly we have it not. Fine 

 names butter no parsnips, nor do they alter facts. 

 Nor do the commandments satisfy a conscience 

 that is not moulded to order. I have heard the 

 whole matter condensed into the convenient 

 formula that animals have no souls. This is 

 clearly a case of swollen head. An unvarnished 

 statement of the relation is nearer the truth. 



We came between the carnivores and their 

 dinner, and having slain the slayer sat down to 

 the repast, upon which we said grace. We killed 

 them out because they persisted in using their 

 canines, and then proceeded to use our own. 

 Before eating we lit a fire to show how cooking 

 alters the moral complexion of actions. We 

 rung down the curtain that the tragedy might be 

 enacted behind ; deadened the cry of pain and 

 fear that it might not reach over-sensitive ears. 



The sentinel, the false alarm, the short fierce 

 combat which were at least picturesque and 

 impressive, and half redeemed the ruder parts 



59 



