Barbarism. 1 5 



similar contingency, starvation would follow for 

 ourselves and our posterity. Add, then, to the 

 physical conditions which are always within easy 

 distance of realization, as geologists, astronomers, 

 and physiologists of the sea can tell us — add the 

 moral conditions so soon to follow, of rapine, 

 cruelty, and the other vices attendant on a collaps- 

 ing state of society. Why, with all the terrors of 

 menacing war and civilized control around, how 

 hard is it to keep in check the brutal element of 

 human nature, either in a country at large or in a 

 single great city! One is reminded of the story 

 how Adonibezec fled from the battle-field, and they 

 pursued him and took him, and cut off his fingers 

 and toes. And what did the wretched man say? 

 " Seventy kings," he said, " having their fingers and 

 toes cut off, have gathered up the leavings of meat 

 under my table!" What must it be when civil 

 authority is no more, martial law has no terrors to 

 display, traditions are dying out, religion breaking 

 up into idolatry, every man's hand against his 

 neighbor, and all ready to pounce upon the weak- 

 est! Such individualism issues in barbarism, yes, 

 African degradation, cave-men, troglodytes, almost 

 ape-men. But then the ape-men will have come 

 down from above; they will not have mounted up 

 from below! 



8. And when out of chaos order does arise again, 

 owing to the infusion of a new blood, or to some 

 genius actuating the potential vigor of human 



