The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-02-01
SCIENTIFIC.
THE PHENOMENA OF LIFE.
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Lite, SAYS Webster, is s'that state Of exis-
tence in animal or plant where its organs are
capable Of performing their fonctions." To
my mind this definition conveys no adequate
conception of the pheno mena Of life, organic
or inorganic. A far more comprehensive
and, at the same time, truer definition bor-
row from an emisent French geologist and
metaphysiciaD, "Iife is psGtuUI change of
relations" and life, whether it be that of
man or that Of a stone, organic or inorganic,
is the same principle, differing only in Tvs
extent and perfection.
All exchange presupposes dndlty and a
difference at least two individual things or
bodies, and an inequality between them, and
BY virtue of this inequality is prOduc d and
established this exchange.
Taking then as foundation for this the
DRY a subsisting natural deficiency in all bo-
dies, and at the same time and in the same
body an overplus, which existing in one mag
supply the deficiency in anosuer, we have
then the sAs,aJl 70 the whole phenomena OF
ph, siesl life, which is the action and reac-
lion produced by the forces Of nature, ssriv-
ing to regain their equilibrium by CHS in.
eessant alienation.
Commencing with this life in its lowest
manifestations and least srfect exhibitions.
Take an earth-bound rock, the product of
the FIRST throes Of nature, the result Of inor-
ganic life's first effort, the frst-born Of ma
ture, produced out Of chaotic Eildness long
before the waters were gathered into one
place, and the edict came froa the Eternal
"Let there be light" We are accustomed.to
call it dull, soulless, lifeless matter; soul
less it surely IL but not lifeless, for its life,
began amid darkness and the strife OF
awakening elements, : dim period far an
terror to that time when the nils lifted up
their heads and Il foods clapped t4eir hands
In admiration Of new born light; has ever
existed, does exist and shall continue, When
the gray old bills shall. themselves have dis
appeared under the Unsuitable stroke Of time
And the life Of this stone, affirm, Il Of the
same nature IS the physical life Of man made
in the image Of his creator, and differs only
In this, that mans physical nature is CON-
posed of many more afinities, and conse-
qusaely capable Il vastly greater disesafca-
tion, just a. grand organ beneath master
touch 10 capable Of wider range Of powers,
sad superior field Of harmony and melody
than simple eolian string marmaring its
to the untaught wind that Jars its |
lethergic repose.
Al physical life 10 one grant scheme -ons
grand oil embracing life--A drama psrfsct in
III its paris, never ending, add whose har-
nony is never Jared by singfs discordsnt /
in which men, snimA,s, tree,
lowering pants and insensibls rocks, "A |
play their parts. coming and going; the very
that compose thsir shapes constant
y changing places. Nov, nan In his strength,
Woman in her loneliness. the roaming focks
If the pasture, the towering stress o. the /
winning ivy; and this vsEy shanging Of form
md relationship W dsdae y b Ne phsne
nsna Of physical LIE. 1T ~, s.lA
Are The strangs slsssls sasEsnts tit thril |
Ihs BODY Of I stoas; ~ dssonpssElIde 49,
exposed to ths action y pakprsf slsas.ts,
Nd thas il nsv eenhinations ~ uea-
lrors living - thas spria6s fssn ~ dsplh
Ehsa snittsn " ~ -. 10 syi6seees ofl
J life ed inssrnal astlvity |; > nst ~ a.