The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-01
he Place of the Soul in Matter John Burroughs

predicts-then life. we know It, must fneyt
tably vanish from the earth. Human life Is
physical phenomenon, and though it involves
we believe, psychic OF non-physica prin-
ciple. 1t Is still not exempt from the operation
of the universal physical laws. 1t came by
them or through them. and 1T must go by them
or through them.
The rigidly scientific mind, impressed with
all these things, the lay mind cannot be. used
to the searching laboratory methods. and
familiar with the phenomenon Of life In its very
roots. as it were dealing with the wonders OF
chemical compounds, and the forces that Turk
In molecules and atoms, seeing in the cosmio
universe and in the evolution of the earth, only
the operation of mechanical and chemical prin
ciples; seeing the irrefragable law of the cor.
relation and the conservation of forces; tracing
consciousness aud all changes In mental
states to changes in the brain substances:
drilled in methods Of proof by experimentation.
knowing that the same number of ultimate
atoms may be SO combined or married as to
produce compounds that differ as radically as
alcohol and ether, Just the same three let
tiers Of the alphabet may be so arranged as to
spell either. dog or God-conversant with all
scientific mind falls, naturally and inevitably
into the mechanistic conception of all life
phenomena.
Science traces the chain OF cause and effect
everywhere and finds no break 1t follows
down animal life till 1t merges in the vegetable.
though it cannot put its finger or It's micro.
scope on the point where one ends and the
other begins. 1t finds forms that partake of the
characteristics Of both. 1t is reasonable to ex.
peCC thaC the vegetaDle merSeS into the mineral
by the same insensible degrees. and that tba
one becomes the other without any real dis.
continuity. The change, II we may call 1t
such, probably takes place in the interior world
OF matter among the primordal atoms. where
only the imagination can penetrate.
In that sleep of the ultimate corpuscle, what
dreams may come, what miracles may be
wrought. what transformations take pace!
When try TO think OF life as mode of motion
in matter, seem to see the particles in mys.
tic dance, a whirling maze of motion, the in.
n fnIv fJa nYN1a fnlr t1y - L,~.S
changing partners, facing this way and that, do.
ing al sorts OF impossible things, like jump
ing down one another's thronts, or occupying
ane anothers bodies, thrilled snd vibrating at
an inccnceivable rate.
The theological solution OF this problem OF
life falls more and more to satisfy thinking men
OF today Living things are natural phenomena.
and we feel that they must in some way be an
outcome Of the natural order. Science is more
and more famtliarizing our minds with the idea
that the universe is a universe. a oneness;
that its laws are continuous We follow the
chemistry Of 1t to the farthest stars and there
Is no serious break or exception: 1t is all of one
stuff. We follow the mechanics of it into the
same ably small depths. and there are no breaks
or exceptions. The biology of 1t we cannot fol.
low beyond our own little corner Of the uni.
verse; indeed. we have no proof that there is
any biology anywhere else. But If there is. 1t
must be eimilar to our own. There is only one
Kind OF electricity, though two phases Of it;
only one kind Of light and heat; one kind OF
chemical affinity in the universe; and hence,
only one kind of life.
Lookcd at in its relation to the whole, life
appears like transient phenomenon of mat
ter. Will not say accidental; 1t seems insep-
arably bound up with the cosmic processes, but,
I may say. fugitive, superficial. circumscribed.
Life comes and goes; 1t penetrates but little
way into the earth it is confined to certain
range of temperature; beyond certain degree
Of cold. on the one hand. 1t does not appear;
and beyond certain degree of heat. on the
other. it is cut off; without water or moisture,
1t ceases; and without air. it is not. 1t has
evidently disappeared from the moon and
probably from the inferior planets. and it Is
doubtful if it has yet appeared on any Of the
superior planets, save Mars
Life comes to matter as the flowers como In
the Spring-when the time is ripe for it, and 1t
disappears when the time is over-ripe Man
appears in due course and has his little day
upon the earth, but that day must as surely
come to an end. Yet can ~ conceive Of the
end Of the physical order? The end of gravity?
Or or cohesion? The air may disappear the
water may disappear. combustion may cease,
but oxygen. hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon will
continue somewhere. 80