376 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



The answer so obtained may even be used to interpret the law itself, 

 having regard for its obvious spirit and intent, rather than the tech- 

 nicalities of some previous case. The pragmatism of nature is expressed 

 through natural selection and the survival of the fittest. It is "the 

 difference that it makes " that decides the fate of a new variation. In 

 the long run, our human virtues and frailties must pass under the same 

 law, but possessing conscious intelligence, we ourselves have a hand in 

 the game hitherto played only by the gods. Having memory and fore- 

 sight, we can even somewhat improve the ancient process, by consider- 

 ing " the difference " as made in the long run, instead of at the moment 

 only, as is the manner of nature herself. 



