The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-01-25

Let it be granted, where will devel-
opment stop? Evidently when the
limit Of conception is attained. What
kind of an earthly being do you desire
to become next-think it out if you
can, and according to the law of evo-
luton you will become that more per
feet being. Is there better plan fol
the feet? Think it out; that plan
will be adopted. Are these two nee
essary arms? aspire one Of them
away. Is there superfuity of eyes
You may have them combined, Poly
phemus-like, into one full round orb
in the centre of the forehead, and
thus be enabled always to go one eye
on it.
It is fallacy to insist that any being
other than man can conceive a type
of earthly life higher than itself
That young man whose thoughts are
now concentrated with forty-horse
electric power upon the perfections of
some other young mans sister agrees
fully with me, and is ready to swear
that what he cannot do is utterly be-
yond the power of any other oyster
however well regulated.
Think of it, mussel aspiring to be-
come snake, reaching up to attain
the higher level of swapping turtle
A mussel is the most contented look
ing animal | have ever seen; half
buried in mud, wholly submerged by
water, he remains almost fxed,-he
never walks upon the pebbly beach
gathering beautiful shells whilst hear
ing the murmur of receding waves;
he does not wander DER the blossom
ing mead, culling choice flowers
wherewith to deck his submarine
grotto; his is not the witching-song
Of the sea-maiden, neither does he dis
entangle his briny locks with comb
of oriental pearl; but in all the sub
Unity Of eloquent silence, he stays
indoors, calm and serene, perfect
picture of indolent repose. A mussel
has no conception of being higher
than himself, and therefore cannot
aspire. At first he had no type.
Again, evolu tionists, preachers and
all, have noted external differences
between individuals of the same tribe,
but of opposite sexes, especially
among the feathered races. They re-
mark the more gorgeous plumage Of
the male, and urge that it is a clear
case of developed aspiration; that his
desire to appear beautiful in the eyes
of his more dusky mate, has tipped
his win gs with brilliant colors, crown
ed his head with a marshal's plume,
and draped his neck with an Afghan
cape.
You, who have been bred upon a
farm, doubtless, observed more than
once, the fierce contention of two
lordly Chandeliers, fighting for the
favors of the barn-yard harem. The
hens appear to be entirely oblivious
to the sanguinary struggle, and con-
tentedly scratch and pick, as though
their fate was not being determined
by the wager of battle. And when
the conflict is over and the conquerer
pipes his shrill clarion note Of we'll
won victory, he comes to the hen Of
his choice, his beautiful plumage all
draggled and torn, his comb cut and
bleeding, his gills SHREDDED and lacer-
ated, she receives his attentions with
as much modesty and decorum, as ere
she did in his days Of gorgeous gal
lantry. Pedigree has no weight with
her; she is Indifferent to strain; she
will indulge in matronly Irritation
with Black Spanish, a Dominic, or
a Shanghai with supreme Indifference,
as to the color Of his coat. Black or
white, red or speckled, she rejects
none.
This idea of growing handsome by
means of aspiration, is founded by
our learned, doubtless, upon human
experience They assume that the
lower animals are invested with rea-
soning powers similar to man; that
the Golden Pheasant when strutting
about in front of his modestly attired
mate knows that she is casting ad-
miring glances upon the splendor of
his wings. They argue thus, because
of the known gallantry of men. We
have all read the heroic achievements
Of the Knigh of the Round Table;
we are familiar with the lofty ex-
ploits Of those errant warriors of the
middle centuries; we can imagine the
adventurer mounted upon his power
full charger cladfn steel, with closed
casque and poised spear, dashing into
the midst Of his enemies, whether
giants, dragons, or enchanters, never
consulting the cost, or pausing for
odds, and laying about him right
valorously, all to win the approval of
God and smile from his lady-love.
We know that in all ages. men have
sought to appear well in the eye of
women; our older ballads and legends
are full of praise for his devotion to
the sex. When fair woman nodded,
he never hesitated to rush into the
blood stained arena; to encounter with
savage beasts; or sell his soul to the
devil.
The glance Of fair Helen's eye kin
died flame of warfare that decimated
Greece, involved the stout walls of
Troy in ruins; brought the gray hairs
of Priam sorrowing to the tomb;
drenched with gore Scamander's vale;
led Achilles to an early death; impli-
Gated the immortal Gods in the con-
test, made Venus forget her voluptu-
business and Vulcan his lameness,
aroused the jealousy of Juno, the
WraCn OF minerva, Cne DruIe naCfed OF
Mars; awakened the ire Of Omnipotent
Jove, and so shook lofty Olympus
with the quarrels Of men, that the
dread senate of the skies more than
once approached the point of eternal
dissolution, and all for the smile
adorning fair woman's lips.
Nor does the present age differ from
the past. Mark with what fatuity
len rush to see Jenny Lind, Mrs