The hydraulic press., 1859-03-12
Infnity OF Life.

Microscopic examination has revealed
the existence of world of organic crea-
lures which was as utterly unknown to
the ancients as the continent of Amer
lea, but proves to be incomparably more
wonderful. A single drop of water is
sometimes as populous with animalcula
as this great globe itself with human
beings; and single grain of sand is
often the home ofstruggling thousands.
Every leaf and twig, the spears of grass
and trunks of trees, the verdant cover
ing Of standing pools, the yellow scum
that froths ON ocean beach, the very dust
that floats on air-all are full of living
entities or formed by their decay. These,
in their endless variety of form, mock
every shape that art can draw, present
an ever-shiftlng succession of new and
lovely designs, and even give hints to
the mechanic if they have not already
anticipated his Inventions Seen through
the magic microscope they move about
with the most amazing rapidity, in an
eccentric yet not aimless manner; and
constant observation has discerned among
them surprising indications of intelli-
gence.
Infnitesimally small as are the micro
scopic animals, they are generally clothed
in coats of mail, or cased in shells con-
sisting of the most lasting Materials
Hence their fossil remains extend be-
yond the entire period of mans history,
and constitute great portion of the
earth's covering of soil. Entire noun
tains and plains are composed of them,
and the smallest fragment of earth or
rock is often but an aggregate Of millions
of minute organic remains.
1t is absolutely impossible to set a
limit to the variety and extent of life.
On our globe the subtitle principle, by
means of an infnity Of individual forms
which are all connected from the lowest
to the highest by the incest gradations,
is disseminated everywhere with the
universally Of chemical elements.
In view of these astonishing facts
why may not drop Of water or grain
of sand be microcosm, or minute rep
resentative of the whole universe p
the globe itself, with it's endless forms
of life, be but as drop ofwater compared
to the inconceivable aggregate of peopled
worlds that move through limitless space?
Man loves to consider the wonderful
beauty of his own being as the culmin-
alton of supreme capacity in the creation
of sentient existences; and has even
arrogated to himself, on the ground of
his assumed superiority, a title to spirit
ual Immortality. He witnesses in the
lower animals exhibitions of the most
exquisite intelligence, yet complacently
denies them the possession of reason,
while demanding and receiving services
that only reason, in some degree, could
enable them to render. He proudly
surveys the green planet on which he
dwells-''the brave o'erhanging canopy
of heaven" with its myriad glistening
orbs, through which, as through kind
ling eyes, looks forth the soul of the uni
verse; and pronounces himself master
of the eternal mystery-the confdant of
Omnipotence-he for whom all things
were made, and beyond whose limited
sphere no form of life exists. More
noble would it be to meekly seek to
learn and not pretend to k'eoao the secret
of creation. There is no limit to in
quiry, and may be none to knowledge.
The fields of nescience, or of the impos-
sible to be known, seem however, to lie
always before us. We have received
but mere hint concerning the globe on
which our own history began in obscu-
rity-and shall we now pretend to Om-
niscience?
| GERMANS CoMING.-We find the