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is an abyss of passion into which each successive generation phinges, 

 without the shghtest regard to the fatal effects which such conduct 

 has produced upon their predecessors.' You should take courage, 

 for the old saw, like every other rule, has its limitations." 



" Well, I suppose I must think more about altering " 



" 1 have gi\cn )ou my advice about altering your tactics. If 

 you reflect a little, jou must realise that the mighty pendulum of 

 change swings with impassive and impersonal regularity, apart from 

 all controversies, from all imaginings — swings subject to the cosmic 

 laws of gravitation, by which, at all events, the thoughts of scientific 

 fishermen of to-day are carried on to ends and purposes of which our 

 grandfathers did not dream." 



" The idea is enough to " 



" The idea may be a little difficult for us to grasp at first, 

 especially as we live in the midst of its evolution, part and parcel 

 ourselves of the changing order. Take my word for it, Science is 

 searching out the weak points and can override all opposition. She 

 can wholly sweep away all barriers, and bring down to her own 



universal line of equalisation the most stubborn impediments 



But my tune is now up, though 1 have yet something to say which 

 you may all like to hear. \'uu may congratulate yourselves upon the 

 following facts, namely, that certain methods established from age 

 to age, on no evidence whatever, have already seen their day ; that 

 the pretensions of our so-called experts, who know nothing of the 

 conditions which control our destinies, and have made tradition one 

 of life's little worries, are gradually exploding; that the happy-go- 

 lucky period of freedom in the chuck-and-chance-it school has passed 

 and gone for ever, for the master key to the fly problem has been 



