First Parents. 13 



other forms mount to higher and more complex 

 existence ; but all start alike as a single cell of 

 something we call protoplasm. 



Protoplasm is a marvellous thing — is in fact 

 tlie marvellous thing. 



In appearance it is a colorless, transparent, jelly- 

 like substance, concerning whose existence and im- 

 portance the world was long in ignorance, because 

 of its insignificant appearance, and because of the 

 way in which it was surrounded and concealed by 

 all sorts of substances which it had itself created. 

 But now it is known that protoplasm is not only 

 a living substance, but that it is the only living 

 substance. Every animal and plant owes its exist- 

 ence to the protoplasm it contains. 



This is incomprehensible until one understands 

 something of the structure of living things, — and 

 not until the microscope had been invented 

 and had lent its aid to the eye of man to see 

 objects otherwise invisible to him, did he sus- 

 pect the truth concerning the protoplasm. 



Now one can place beneath the lens of the 

 microscope any living tissue and find it made 

 up of many little chambers, or cells, as they 

 are called. Within these chambers, or cells, 

 in the living tissue is always found the trans- 

 parent, jelly-like protoplasm ; a tiny piece of 

 the inside skin of the onion, for instance, 

 shows very beautifully the cells containing pro- 

 toplasm of which it is made. 



