Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-04-21
HORN.

Tfa philosopher were asked which is
the metal most useful to humanity, he
would reply without hesitating: 1t Is
neither copper, nor silver, but irOn-irOn,
which takes so many shapes; which is
transformed in so many ways, that one
might almost declare that the metallur-
gists who handle it so well have discOv-
cred the philosophers stone.
Horn, that is to say, the outside bone,
is for the life of the animal series what
iron is for the life of communities. Like
irOD. horn is capable of receiving not on
Iv a variety Of different forms, but also
a degree of hardness prOpOTtiOnate to the
uses for which it is intended.
It's principal application is to furnish
the prime material for instruments of
massacre, spOliatiOn, rending and tear
ing. Nevertheless, it is in this shape,
cutting, horrible form that it has been
the blessed instrument of progress.
Those steely beaks of the birds Ofprey,
those claws of the great CarnivOrOus an
imaIs, seem to have been shaTpened by
the genius of evil. Still they have ser
we'd the world better in its sdevelOpemenS
| than the thick shell, which is the inert
! Instrumental mere conservatism.
If these terrible weapons had not torn
the weak and the indOlent, the earth
would have been OveTstOcked with flesh
! less Eliminating animals, cOntending for
1.-the last blade of grass, and gnaWIng
! away the herbage as soon as 1t reached
! the surface of the ground. If the goats,
wild horses and gazelles have retained
their gracefulness and their delicaCy, it
is because they have had imperative
need of energy in their limbs, along with
| keeness of scent and hearing, and pen
etratiOn in order to escape the murder
GUS tooth, admirably aided by the sharp
ened claw. It is, in fine, because, thanks
to horn, their fieeting life has been a
constant succession of gymnastics.
We could not, therefore, make bet
ter use of the microscope than to employ
it in ANALYSING a substance that plays so
large a part in the eternal struggle. Let
us, then, take up daintily, 1 will say al
most with respect, piece of this HUtRg
metal. We shall discover without diff
Guilty that 1t is formed Of a compact,
firm and silky tissue, resembling that OF
the damascened woods of the East.
Let us bring to the aid of our magni-
fving lens, that optical instrument of the
intellect, reason, whose magnifying pow
er is infinite, and we shall necessarily
comprehend that the construction of the
organs of prey of the great destroyers is
the fruit ola mechanism in some respects
sublime.
Had they been more terrible than was
exactly necessary for their particular
purDOse. the weapons that nature be-
slowed, had she given them too iberally
would only have overloaded and embar'
rassed the recipient, like the sword o.
Charlemagne in an ordinary hand.
Our great artiZans who work for car
mage have not even, at this late day, in
vented the best armOT that soldiers coulC
use, ,land the science Of destruction Is still
in progress, as it has been since the time
of Cain. Each animal, however hide
GUS it may be, has nevertheless, ISSUED
from the hands of nature as perfectly ar
med as it shOnld be, in order to play it,
partin the universe harmony. In th'
universe, infinite as it is, there is M
room for what cannot be turned to sOm'
purpose.
Nature has refused to none of thes'
5 animals, strange as some of them may
be, all that she could give them. But il
, her defensive and offensive outfits, sht
l has not expended the least useless luXu-
e ry. See the difference that there is be
tween the claw of the falcon and thu
, wrBtched little hook by the aid of whicl
e the bat suspends itself to the slightes
g asperities Of the wall. We conclude in
! moment that these disinherited crea
i lures would speedily disappear from tn
surface Of the earth If they had not tn
s darkness fora never falling refuge. Th
; very hollow Of their crooked claw seem