The Nuptial Flight 
alcohol and the other scourge are accidents 
that humanity has to surmount; ordeals, 
it may be, by which certain of our organs, 
those of the nerves, for instance, may 
benefit; for we invariably find that life 
profits by the ills that it overcomes. Be- 
sides, a mere trifle that we may discover 
to-morrow may render these poisons in- 
nocuous. These men have thoughts and 
feelings that those of whom La Bruyére 
speaks had not.” “I prefer the simple, 
naked animal to the odious half-animal,” 
I murmured. “ You are thinking of the 
first semblance now,” he replied, “the 
semblance dear to the poet, that we saw 
before; let us not confuse it with the 
one we are now considering. These 
thoughts and feelings are petty, if you 
will, and vile; but what is petty and 
vile is still better than that which is 
not at all. Of these thoughts and feel- 
ings they avail’ themselves only to hurt 
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