New-York tribune., 1885-01-18

sympatnioS were strongly IN the other direction
though had little or no enthusiasm for what may
be termed the "iok and the NIGHT ich schools OF
metaphysics" So shook my head and shrugged
my shoulders, saying something to this efect that
If thought was simply mechanism, as they sug.
gested. man was no better than the "beasts that
perish"
At TINS moment there appeared upon the scene
another individual, entering quietly through the
drawng-ro ON door. which was partly Open The
newcomer was dog a splendid bull-terricr, who
belonged to George Eliot, and generally accompa-
MED Lewos in his walks about the neighbOrhOQd.
He came in with languid wag of tho tail. and a
general AIR of Importance. glanced patronzingly nc
mo. yawned azily, and stretched himself on the
hcarthrug at the feet Of his mistress.
George Eliot" The beasts that perish" Here
is somebody wnO. IL he could speak, would express
strong opinion upon that subject for he il wise in
his generation, andmagnaninous almost be ond hui
man conception. DO You know what he did once,
before he was given to usi The friend to whom
measure the predictions of the archetypal ape
Lewes (paronrh rheticaly)- true aud only sub
stitute for Platos archotyoal Man
George Elldt-One day, oar frlend had some ac-
qualntances TO luncheon. AS they sat together
they were startled by sharp cry of pain from un-
derncath the table; and lifting the edge Of the
table-coth. they saw the small human monkey
squatied on tao carpet, in the act OF Sitting tho
dogs ear with large pair Of scissors! Out crept
tne uo., painting ana bleeding, 1OlleWSl Dy MS
little tsrnientor Papa, of nrse, was very indg
naat. and sszing tho child, whs began to sab with
terror. announced ais intention of administering
condign punishment, which he would hays done
Instantly had not the victim nterfeied Waggng
his tail 0ust a, he IS doing now. for he knows Pm
telling aIont him!) the noble fellow rose
ahectioaatey licked his face; thcn looking at hi'
master. said plainly. IN the canine deaf and dumb
alphabet. Don't boat him! please don't! He's
only an undsvelopod human being: he knows no
better, and-I love himw Could human kiadness
and magnaaimity 60 furthorf Yet don't suppose
you will contcnd that tho poor dog loving instinct
beasts that perish"
Mysclf-Pm not sure! Why should not oven
dog have soul like any other respectable Chris
tian
Lewes-Wbv MOI. indeodl have known many
so-cai,sd Christians who have neither tao amabi-
ity nor the discrimination of this dog.
George Eli0t-rhen here so halt on the horns of
dilemma. Every ONO with a large acquaintance
among doesn't and conference.-the" dogs las
Launce would put III must adnt their share in the
highest humanltes; End what is true of them is
true TO greater or loss exten', of animals gener.
ally. Yet shall we, D,cause we walk on our hind
feet. to ourselves cny the privilege of in-
per'shablIty Snail We, who are even a. they,
though we wag our Tongues and not our tails, dc:
mand a special Providence and sol fish sa vation
liewos tlau shing-l5uchl lnan. ike all yonng
men, Is an optmSt! His spiritual schomo embraces
cvery form of existence as well ~ the whole hu-
man race
Gsorse Eliot-Anl why. even the whole human
race' Go into the sluns and dcns OF the city,
visit prisons and inspect our criminals. not To
spsak OF the inmates of our lunatic asylum3; and
what do you fadf Beass IN human likeness.
monsters with appoties and instincts often even
the cleverness OF msn and wOnsn. Ara these I'M
III prtal souls too, indrpsn lent 0f physical imta-
tious. aud journeying 10 an eternal Homet
Myself -Csrtlnv. rnsrs IL no form of human
itv, however degraded. which il beyond the posi-
bi,ity of moral regeneration.
LewsS-Optimisa with a vengeance! Optim-
isn which leaves out of sight all this great physi-
cal factors Of moral condnct-heredtary disease,
cerebral maliOrmations, thong -peryerting con-
ge.tons ali the endless Ills that flesh Is heir TO.
I'm afraid after ALL that the dream of a personal
immortality ~ selfish one. IL would come. in tho
long rum merely TO the survival of the httest, who
would build heir helvonl mansion Oh hccatomb OF
hu nan failure. But there, we've talked
enough Of things at prcsrst inscrutable. Come ont
into the gar len, lld s)othe yOur mechanism Win
a cigar.
We left the Sybil to her meditaiions, and walked
out INTO the open air. A. We strolsd smoking
along the garden walks. wc heard family. rs from
a distance. the murmur of tho great city.
''Do you really believe" said presently. that
the divine thought of Shakespeare was mere Sc
cretion and that the last wori of Science Will DO
one of sheer DegatIon and despalrF
He looked at mo tho Ightfuliy. then watched the
vreaths of smoke as they curled from his mouth up
into the air.
Man 10 predoomed to aspiration. m the smoke
flies upward. Tho last word OF Scicacc viii not Oe
spoken for many . century yet. Aho can guess
what il will beir ROBERT BUCHANAN.