


KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL, 65 

NATURE’S MASTER-PIECE. 

MECHANISM OF THE HUMAN BODY. 

How poor, how rich, how abject, how august, 
How complicate, how wonpERFUL is MAN! 
How passing wonder Hr who made him such ! 
; YOUNG. 

Wispom! thou gift of God, thou thing Divine, 
Convert my humble soul into thy shrine ! 
—— F. OSBORNE. 
REAT, SURPASSINGLY GREAT 
™ AND MARVELLOUS, are the 
many objects that pass under 
our eye from day to day; 
whether we regard the animal, 
vegetable, or mineral worlds. 
Turn where we may, a new 
wonder awaitsus. The finger 
of God is above us, below us; on our right 
and on our left. This remark holds good 
throughout the year,—but at this lovely 
season in particular. 
One would reasonably imagine that the study 
of such wonderful objects would be universal 
—at all events among people who have been 
what is called liberally educated; and that 
their lives would be spent in the happy pur- 
suit of knowledge that would fill their minds 
with surprise, wonder, adoration, and praise. 
But no! These pursuits are, strange to say, 
comparatively neglected. Until very recently 
it was deemed quite unfashionable,—nay vul- 
gar, for people ef taste to acknowledge any 
intimate acquaintance with the structure of 
plants or the habits of animals. They called 
each plant and each animal by its assigned 
name, and cared not to inquire further,— 
deeming all such common-place observations 
the duty of a gardener, florist, and professed 
ornithologist. In fact, there was no love felt 
either towards the plant or the bird. The 
one was an ornament to the room, and the 
other a lively companion. These degrading 
feelings are even yet but too common in 
so-called refined society, as everybody is but 
‘too well aware. ‘This isa delicate subject, 
perhaps, to handle ; but we are a great advo- 
cate for probing every wound, and tracing it 
to its source. 
This most singular indifference to the works 
of the great Creator, and to our progress in 
civilisation, was extraordinarily apparent at 
the late ‘“ Great Exhibition of all Nations.” 
Instead of finding the higher classes busily 
engaged here, in examining the wonderful 
machinery by means of which the elegancies 
of life are supplied; and gazing on the won- 
drous contributions sent in from all parts 
of the world,—we found them invariably 
parading about the building as creatures of 
fashion—listlessly and indifferently saunter- 
ing through the rooms as a work of formal 
every-day duty; and glad to repair to the 
Refectory, to solace themselves with ice and 

Von. ITV.—5. 

other delicacies.* We could not but mark 
the difference between the fashionables and 
the inquiring multitude. How the former 
yawned, and frittered away their time—whilst 
the latter availed themselves of each passing 
moment to see everything that was to be seen, 
and were unceasing in asking questions. May 
the time quickly arrive when the acquisition 
of the useful knowledge we have been hinting 
at may not be considered vulgar, and when 
all the works of our Creator may be thought 
worthy of investigation ! 
The theme to which we are anxious to 
direct the present attention of our readers, 
is the wonderful construction of the human 
body. We touched upon this in our First 
VOLUME (p. 133), and pointed out the great 
dangers arising from the want of a due con- 
sideration and proper knowledge of our struc- 
ture and organisation. However indifferent 
people may show themselves to other proofs 
of their Creator’s power and goodness; in 
this matter, to be ignorant is to be guilty of 
a great offence. 
We have no wish to-day, to speak of the 
reciprocal influence of the soul upon the body, 
and the body upon the soul ;—wonderful 
though this sweet influence be. There is a 
wisdom displayed herein, which we cannot 
properly fathom. Indeed, the result of our 
profoundest investigations into the exquisite 
union existing between body and soul, can- 
not end in anything but admiration and 
astonishment. \e may feel what we cannot 
express. We may be lost in praise, when 
our thoughts are denied the power of utter- 
ance. , 
But we may lawfully and profitably con- 
sider the structure of our frame. A most 
convenient opportunity now offers for this, 
by the return of Dr. Kaun from the pro- 
vinees. This gentleman has just re-opened 
his grand ANAToMIcCAL MUsEeum at the 
Portland Gallery, Regent Street, and we 
observe that he has made some valuable 
additions to his already large collection of 
objects. Our readers will remember that we 
noticed this most useful Exhibition (if we 
may so term it) in our First Volume (see p. 
134),—directing special attention to it, and 
requesting fathers, brothers, and mothers to 
pay it an early visit. 
This we urge upon them now, more than 
ever. They may learn more, here, in the 
course of six hours, than they might per- 
* This was commented on, at much length, and 
very piquantly, by our contemporaries,—the Times 
in particular. The “ butterflies of fashion,” they 
remarked, who selected for themselves the pro- 
minent seats in the building, to ‘show off on,” re- 
ceived an intelligible hint by the removal of these 
seats to more private recesses,—this compelling 
them to keep moving “‘2f they wanted to be seen.” 
Such was the fact.—Ep. K. J. 
