THE S W A R .W 



the extent that I admire its results. It 

 were evidently to be desired that these 

 results might be obtained at the cost of 

 less renouncement and suffering. But, 

 the principle once accepted, — and this is 

 needful, perhaps, in the scheme of our 

 globe, — its organisation compels our 

 wonder. Whatever the human truth on 

 this point may be, life, in the hive, is not 

 looked on as a series of more or less 

 pleasant hours, whereof it is wise that 

 those moments only should be soured 

 and embittered that are essential for main- 

 taining existence. The bees regard it as 

 a great common duty, impartially distrib- 

 uted amongst them all, and tending 

 towards a future that goes funher and 

 further back ever since the world began. 



[98] 



