214 Notes and Comments. 



AND MAN. 



In another Bulletin the editor informs us : ' Many people 

 stand aghast at the havoc of the present war. and ask is it 

 this to which civilisation has been tending during the centuries 

 that have gone ? Progress has been so ra]iid that they regard 

 this war as something which is Hkely to destroy civilisation. 

 Are they not short-sighted ? The war is a set-back, a terrific 

 one, certainly. But is it not better to regard it only as a 

 temporary set-back ? Think of the 400,000 years of paleolithic 

 times during which progress was so slight, and during which, 

 as we know, there were such serious cultural set-backs. And 

 yet the sum -total has been progress. The human race takes 

 two steps forward for every one backward ■ we can never 

 again become in the condition of primitive man. Let the 

 faint-hearted take courage. Backward though we seem to be 

 going just now, and it will be admitted that civilisation is 

 checked for a time, there can be but little doubt that the 

 recovery will be rapid, and that there will be giant-strides in 

 the evolution of civilisation in the near future. Man's evolution 

 is still incomplete. He is being weighed in the balances, but 

 we can never admit for a moment that he is being lound 

 wanting.' 



CHEIRANTHS— A PARABLE. 



Ineffable magic of Perfume blent 



In butter-blake petal or dyed as with blood, 



To pile up a posy that blesses through scent, 

 While spread like a Carpet of Ind on the rood ! 

 ' Wall-flowers ' homely !— no trove from afar, — 

 But ' Warriors '* waging a year-long War 

 With Winter that ever Spring routs completely, 

 As Hope — heart's lark ! — mounts high and sweetly. 



Aught beyond this shall our fancy say. 



To be true to the fact and the feeling ? No, 



All's told in a term — 'Tis the Season's ' Way," 

 Earth's comfort conveyed in an Odour, so ! 

 Hand-flowers ! f badge of the Quick and the Brave f 

 Plant, an' you will, on the Soldiers' grave ; 

 But, look to it — keep you the Home plot aflower 

 For who'll stand by it with you in Victory's Hour. 



No more than the skies, at a country's Call, 

 Are all in ' the good fight ' known to fall : 

 Look forward in trust through the perfumed portal, 

 And know that a God made Hope's Immortal. 



F. Arnold Lees. 



* The rustic's name all over the south of England, and Blake is the 

 yellow ' lake ' of dye used in cheese and butter making. 

 •j- The generic term, englished. 



Naturalist. 



