The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-04-30
THE PROBLEM OF LIFE.

THE PROBLEM OF LIFE.
A Question Which Scientists Have Failed
to Solve.
A mysterious potency, which we call
life, stole in upon the earth in the
primeval silences, and has fingered on
age after age as changeless and inscru-
, table as it's Creator. Life is always as
sociated with a particular form of mat
ter called protoplasm, and has been
transmitted from one being to another,
high or low, in an unbroken series since
it first appeared. But, so far as we
know, it has always resided, as it does
to-day, in little masses of protoplasm
called cells.
In the higher forms of animals la"ge
numbers of co-ordinated cell communi-
ties are grouped together to form an in
dividual capable of varied and complex
powers while in the lowest plants a
single cell fosters the spark which but
ieebly suggests the wonderful capac:-
ties of higher types.
We know that protoplasm is an al
buminoid substance and that it looks
very much alike in cells which may de-
'velop into one of the higher animals, or
in those which remain in the lowly ele-
mentary condition which probably be-
longed to the earliest types upon the
earth. Hence the Indebtedness of our
attempts to characterize and explain its
varied forms. This protoplasm has
more than once been found at the storm
center of controversial worthless, because
Just here the material and the imma,
terial seem to meet.
A gentleman just returned from a
scientific seance is said to have remarked
that, so far as he could make it out,
.protoplasm appeared to be some new
kind of arrowroot, a belief in which
did not necessarily imply incredulity as
to the inspiration of the Scriptures.
We analyze it. and find what elemen'
tai substances combine to give it form
we watch the things it does under the
inspiration of the life forces, and these
varied observations we get together and
write down and call it discourse upon
life, or biology. But when in the last
chapter we try to make plain to our
selves or others what it is, after all
which makes this particular form Of
matter called protoplasm alone fitted
for the residence of the life powers
when we try to picture the nature and
origin of the inspiring agencies, we fine
that, like Omar, we
have heard great argument
| About it and about, but evermore
| Came out by the same door wherein went.
But while baffied in this supreme
| hos 70 LOTT
years that pathways entered upon il
pursuit of the mystery of life have lee
many explorers by different and devi
GUS ways into new invisible world Of
| living things, at once so vast and SO
minute, so useful and so deadly, thai
the dawn of new era in the science Of
| life seems just at hand.-T. Mitchell
Prudden, NJ. D., in Harper's Magazine
How She Would Fix Him.
Miss Vixen-I am almost positive
Fred Halfway intends proposing to m,
tonight, mamma.
Mrs. Vixen-What makes you think
so, my dear?
Miss Vixen-He acted so mysteriou
when met him on the street this morn
ing.
Mrs. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.? How?
Miss Vixen-Why, when met him h
blushed and stammered like sill,
schoolgirl, and finally blurted out tina
he would like to see me alone this even
ing. He makes me very ennui.
Mrs. Vixen-Well, do you intend
see him?
Miss Vixen-O, yes, I'll see him. Blu
you mark my words, if he proposes t
me tonight he'll never propose TO an
other girl if he lives to be 100.
Mrs. Vixen-I hope you won't declin
his offer insultingly.
Miss Vixen-No, I'll accept him.
! Epoch.