274 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



over it. If prejudices could be satisfactorily displaced by- 

 argument, one might ask how a man can pass a butcher's 

 shop with equanimity, yet shudder at the idea of dissecting 

 a rabbit or a dog ; but I will admit all such incongruities as 

 facts not assailable by argument, and simply direct the 

 reader's attention to the important differences between dis- 

 secting animals of the larger kind, and dissecting our maiine 

 pets — it is as great as the difference between knitting a 

 silken pui'se in a drawing-room, and making a ship's cable in 

 a rope-walk. Almost all our dissections are performed 

 under water, with needles, tweezers, and delicate scissors. 

 There is no visible blood to suggest unpleasant ideas ; there 

 is nothing unsightly — to the philosophic eye the sight is full 

 of interest — and if an unsightly aspect be present, has not 

 a noble poetess truly said : — 



" Be, rather, bold, and bear 

 To look into the swarthiest face of things 

 For God's sake who has made them. 



How is this, 

 That men of science, osteologists 

 And surgeons, beat some poets, in respect 

 For nature — count nought common or unclean, 

 Spend raptures upon perfect specimens 

 Of indurated veins, distorted joints. 

 Or beautiful new cases of curved spine ; 

 • While we, wo are shocked at nature's falling off— 



We dare to shrink back from her warts and Wains— 



We will not, when she sneezes, look at her. 



Not even to say, ' God bless her.' That's our wrong." * 



Nay, has not the greatest of German poets, whose cultm-e 

 of the beautiful was so devout that it has been made a 



* A urora Leiyh. 



