Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-02-20
Ghildren's department.
IOIISlItI'J
THE MOST PERFECT ANIMAL.

Some scientific men teach that in the ami
NAL kingdom there exists kind of gradua-
tion. The lowest order, we are told, is just
one remove from vegetable, and the highest
just one degree below angels. Man stands at
the head of the list, according to this classif-
cation. He is, if this theory be correct, near
er perfection than any other member of the
animal kingdom. Whether there does exist
in nature any such regularly graduated scale
as that indicated above, it would not be very
profitable to inquire. No doubt, if we would
examine into the thing closely, we would find
many links in the chain wanting. There is
one thing about the physical structure of all
kinds of animals, that is interesting and in
structive. If We will study the nature and
habits of animals, we will find that they are
all perfectly prepared for the place and work
assigned them by their Creator. The bird is
as we'll adapted to fly as man is to walk, and
the fish is as we'll prepared to live in the
water as the bird is to float in the air. The
bird would be an imperfect animal if taken
out of the air and placed in the water. Its
wings and bones are 80 constructed as to ena-
BILE it to fly, and not swim. The fish would
be an imperfect animal if its natural element
was the air. All the members ofits body are
admirably adapted for swimming, but they
are not suited at all for walking or flying.
No mortal man can understandingly say
which is higher in the scale of existence, the
fish or the fowl. Both are perfect. Nothing
is wanting in the physical organism of either
to render it at home in the domain which an
all.wise Creator has allotted to it. The foot
of the OK is not armed with claws, as is the
foot of the lion; neither has the OK the strong
tushes of the dog. The lion could not live
without claws, and the dog would be poorly
prepared for his place without his tushes; but
the OK needs neither claws nor tushes. The
OK is as we'll prepared to provide for his wants
as is either the lion or dog. Man nnottake
the ox's place, neither can the OK take mans
place. That which elevates man above the
beast of the 6eldi is not his physical superiority,
but his mental and moral endowments. He
has neither the animal courage of the lion,
nor the muscular strength of the horse, nor
the cunning of the fox. Still man is lord of
the lower world. He yokes the OK, and
brides the horse and mule. On his approach
the savage wild beasts of the forest flee away.
Not because there is more physical strength
in his arm than in the neck of the OK, or in
the shoulder of the horse, but because, by the
ordinance of Heaven, these creatures submit
to reason, and become willing servants Of
man. Supported only by muscular strength
or adroitness, the African lion could never be
Gagged, the horse bridled, or the OK yoked by
man. Aided by reason, however, he makes
servants of the wild beasts, domesticates them
and causes them to toll and labor for his sup
port. The stronger serves the weaker. Phys
ically, there is no defect in any member of
the animal kingdom. All are perfect. In
the beautiful language of their Maker, Cali
is very good;" good for what it was de-
signed-good for itself, and good for every
other creature