The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-04
The Mechanical Beauty Of the Lsot

From Bible Teachings in Nature, by. Macmillan.
Although science is usually represented
as tearing the poetical vail from the face of
nature, and reducing all ner wonderful facts
to dry mathematical formulas vet there are
instances in which it has been greatly ndebt.
ed TO the inspiration Of poetry. One of the
most beautiful scientific generalites was the
result, not Of the patient, perseveriur re.
searches Of the naturalist but of the dreamy
reverie OF poet. On the meditatiye mind
OF Goethe on one occasion dawned the bright
idea that the flower of plant is not, as is
commonly supposed, an added or separate
organ, but only the highest development, or
rather transformation, of its leaves that all
the parts OF plant, from the seed to the
blossom, are mere notifications of leaf
This idea was at first laughed at by scien.
tine men as the dream of one ignorant of
science, and even by the kindred mind of
schiller It was regarded as a poetical fancy,
although he acknowledged its beauty and in.
genulty' But as time wore on it began N
attract more reyerent attention it was found
10 be clear exposition Of a somewhat hazy
preseniment of the great Linnmus, aud Of a
EpyoryIong buried IN neglect, first PROFOUND
ed by Wolf. Thus recommended by scien.
the authority, men began to study it anew
IN the light OF Natures own revelations, and
soon became convinced Of ts scientific val.
ne. Jussieu and de CondoIe, the eminent
French botanists, gave their unqualified as.
sent to it ; and now the poetry Of the idea is
lost sight of in its prosaic reality, and il is
taught as a fundamental and all essential
truth in every text book Of vegetable phsyi
~. L
the science of botany. 1t supplied the key
Of explanation for the occurrence of all thos,
singular metamorphoses which plants under
60, and which were formerly utterly inexpli
cable. 1t lies at the root of the arts of sgri
culture and horticulture 4; for without the law
involved in it, the simple wild plants of ma
ture could not possibly be converted into the
magnificent double flowers of our gardens
aud the useful products Of our fields. This
one idea has done more to lift the vail oil
mystery from nature, and to interpret the
plans AID purposes of the Creator, than all
the previous labors of botanists
We see around us in every walk we take
innumerable specimens of vegetation, from
the moss on the wall to the majestic oak
tree, displaying every possible diversity o
structure and appearance, and we are lost
10 smazemeut at the inexhaustble riches Of
the Infinite Mind. But when we realize the
fact that one principle Of construction per.
vades all this Of dependent organism that
the leaf.form and iesi-structure are the prim.
hive models from which all this compiexitv
has originated, we obtain the clue which
guides Us easily through the labyrinth. and
makes us wonder at its simplicity. Thoresu,
watching the leafy expansions Of frost vege.
tstion On the window pane, and on the blades
0! grass, declared that "the Maker Of this
eGria but patented leaf"
Flowers, the glory Of the vegetable world,
Ere L srslr lesTes, arranged 80 as 10 protect
.ne VIA organs within them, and colored so
~ &c Ii s-bcs insects 20 scatter the fertilizs-
.tut ~ III, All 10 reflect or absorb the light
aUa ness u The sun for npening the seed.
'tamel auo pstiif EnsF u converted BY the
'sil o. tt'' gardener lS.s petals, aud the