234 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



with other eyes, and not to think of it as remote in space, 

 but nearly and momentarily connected with us and all 

 living things. Astronomy may measure the mighty dis; 

 tance which separates us from that blazing pivot of life ; 

 but Biology throws a luminous arch, which spans those 

 millions upon millions of miles, and brings us and the sun 

 together. Far away blazes that great centre of force, from 

 which issues the mystic influence, 



" Striking the electric chain wherewith weVe darkly bound." 



For myriads and myriads of years has this radiation of force 

 gone on ; and now stored-up force lies quiescent in coal- 

 fields of vast extent, once all pure sunlight, hurrying 

 through the silent air, passing into primeval forests, before 

 man was made, and now lying black, quiet, slumbering, but 

 ready to awaken into blazing activity at the bidding of 

 human skill. From light the coal-fields came, to light they 

 return. From light come the prairies and meadow-lands, 

 the heathery moors, the reedy swamps, the solemn forests, 

 and the smiling cornfields, orchards, gardens ; all are air- 

 Moven children of light. 



Not less indispensable is light to animals— first, as fur- 

 nishing them with plants on which to feed ; secondly, 

 as furnishing them mth oxygen to breathe ; and, thirdly, 

 as stimulating in some unexplained manner the organic 

 processes. Light afiects the respiration of animals, just as 

 it aff'ects the respiration of plants. This is novel doctrine, 

 but it is demonstrable. In the daytime we expire more 

 carbonic acid than during the night ; a fact long laiown to 



