the unseen world and other essays-第12节
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nebulous vapour； developing with prodigious waste of energy into theatres of all that is grand and sacred in spiritual endeavour； clashing and exploding again into dead vapour…balls； only to renew the same toilful process without end；a senseless bubble…play of Titan forces； with life； love； and aspiration brought forth only to be extinguished。 The human mind； however 〃scientific〃 its training； must often recoil from the conclusion that this is all； and there are moments when one passionately feels that this cannot be all。 On warm June mornings in green country lanes； with sweet pine…odours wafted in the breeze which sighs through the branches； and cloud…shadows flitting over far…off blue mountains； while little birds sing their love…songs； and golden…haired children weave garlands of wild roses； or when in the solemn twilight we listen to wondrous harmonies of Beethoven and Chopin that stir the heart like voices from an unseen world； at such times one feels that the profoundest answer which science can give to our questionings is but a superficial answer after all。 At these moments； when the world seems fullest of beauty； one feels most strongly that it is but the harbinger of something else；that the ceaseless play of phenomena is no mere sport of Titans； but an orderly scene； with its reason for existing； its
〃One divine far…off event To which the whole creation moves。〃
Difficult as it is to disentangle the elements of reasoning that enter into these complex groups of feeling； one may still see； I think； that it is speculative interest in the world； rather than anxious interest in self； that predominates。 The desire for immortality in its lowest phase is merely the outcome of the repugnance we feel toward thinking of the final cessation of vigorous vital activity。 Such a feeling is naturally strong with healthy people。 But in the mood which I have above tried to depict； this feeling； or any other which is merely self…regarding； is lost sight of in the feeling which associates a future life with some solution of the burdensome problem of existence。 Had we but faith enough to lighten the burden of this problem； the inferior question would perhaps be less absorbing。 Could we but know that our present lives are working together toward some good end； even an end in no wise anthropomorphic； it would be of less consequence whether we were individually to endure。 To the dog under the knife of the experimenter； the world is a world of pure evil； yet could the poor beast but understand the alleviation of human suffering to which he is contributing； he would be forced to own that this is not quite true； and if he were also a heroic or Christian dog； the thought would perhaps take away from death its sting。 The analogy may be a crude one； but the reasonableness of the universe is at least as far above our comprehension as the purposes of man surpass the understanding of the dog。 Believing； however； though as a simple act of trust； that the end will crown the work； we may rise superior to the question which has here concerned us； and exclaim； in the supreme language of faith； 〃Though He slay me； yet will I trust in Him！〃
July； 1875。
II。 〃THE TO…MORROW OF DEATH。〃
Few of those who find pleasure in frequenting bookstores can have failed to come across one or more of the profusely illustrated volumes in which M。 Louis Figuier has sought to render dry science entertaining to the multitude。 And of those who may have casually turned over their pages； there are probably none； competent to form an opinion； who have not speedily perceived that these pretentious books belong to the class of pests and unmitigated nuisances in literature。 Antiquated views； utter lack of comprehension of the subjects treated； and shameless unscrupulousness as to accuracy of statement； are faults but ill atoned for by sensational pictures of the 〃dragons of the prime that tare each other in their slime；〃 or of the Newton…like brow and silken curls of that primitive man in contrast with whom the said dragons have been likened to 〃mellow music。〃
Nevertheless； the sort of scientific reputation which these discreditable performances have gained for M。 Figuier among an uncritical public is such as to justify us in devoting a few paragraphs to a book＇13＇ which； on its own merits； is unworthy of any notice whatever。 〃The To…morrow of Death〃if one were to put his trust in the translator's prefatory notediscusses a grave question upon 〃purely scientific methods。〃 We are glad to see this remark； because it shows what notions may be entertained by persons of average intelligence with reference to 〃scientific methods。〃 Thoseand they are manywho vaguely think that science is something different from common…sense； and that any book is scientific which talks about perihelia and asymptotes and cetacea； will find their vague notions here well corroborated。 Quite different will be the impression made upon thoseand they are yet too fewwho have learned that the method of science is the common…sense method of cautiously weighing evidence and withholding judgment where evidence is not forthcoming。 If talking about remote and difficult subjects suffice to make one scientific； then is M。 Figuier scientific to a quite terrible degree。 He writes about the starry heavens as if he had been present at the hour of creation； or had at least accompanied the Arabian prophet on his famous night…journey。 Nor is his knowledge of physiology and other abstruse sciences at all less remarkable。 But these things will cease to surprise us when we learn the sources； hitherto suspected only in mythology； from which favoured mortals can obtain a knowledge of what is going on outside of our planet。
＇13＇ The To…morrow of Death； or； The Future Life according to Science。 By Louis Figuier。 Translated from the French by S。 R。 Crocker。 Boston： Roberts Brothers。 1872。
The four inner planets being nearly alike in size （？） and in length of day； M。 Figuier infers； by strictly scientific methods； that whatever is true of one of them； as our earth； will be true of the others （p。 34）。 Hence； they are all inhabited by human beings。 It is true that human beings must find Venus rather warm； and are not unlikely to be seriously incommoded by the tropical climate of Mercury。 But we must remember that 〃the men of Venus and Mercury are made by nature to resist heat； as those of Jupiter and Saturn are made to endure cold； and those of the Earth and Mars to live in a mean temperature： OTHERWISE THEY COULD NOT EXIST〃 （p。 72）。 In view of this charming specimen of a truly scientific inference； it is almost too bad to call attention to the fact that M。 Figuier is quite behind the age in his statement of facts。 So far from Jupiter and Saturn being cold； observation plainly indicates that they are prodigiously hot； if not even incandescent and partly self…luminous； the explanation being that； by reason of their huge bulk； they still retain much of the primitive heat which smaller planets have more quickly radiated away。 As for M。 Figuier's statement； that polar snows have been witnessed on these planets； it is simply untrue； no such thing has ever been seen there。 Mars； on the other hand； has been observed to resemble in many important respects its near neighbour； the Earth； whence our author declares that if an aeronaut were to shoot clear of terrestrial gravitation and land upon Mars； he would unquestionably suppose himself to be still upon the earth。 For aerolites； it seems； are somehow fired down upon our planet both from Mars and from Venus； and aerolites sometimes contain vegetable matter （？）。 Therefore； Mars has a vegetation； and very likely its red colour is caused by its luxuriant autumnal foliage！ （p。 47。） To return to Jupiter： this planet； indeed； has inconveniently short days。 〃In his 'Picture of the Heavens；' the German astronomer； Littrow （these Germans think of nothing but gormandizing）； asks how the people of Jupiter order their meals in the short interval of five hours。〃 Nevertheless； says our author； the great planet is compensated for this inconvenience by its equable and delicious climate。
In view； however； of our author's more striking and original disclosures； one would suppose that all this discussion of the physical conditions of existence on the various planets might have been passed over without detriment to the argument。 After these efforts at proving （for M。 Figuier presumably regards this rigmarole as proof） that all the members of our solar system are habitable； the interplanetary ether is forthwith peopled thickly with 〃souls；〃 without any resort to argument。 This； we suppose； is one of those scientific truths which as M。 Figuier tells us； precede and underlie demonstration。 Upon this impregnable basis is reared the scientific theory of a future life。 When we die our soul passes into some other terrestrial body； unless we have been very good； in which case we at once soar aloft and join the noble fraternity of the ether…folk。 Bad men and young children； on dying； must undergo renewed probation here below； but ultimately all pass away into the interplanetary ether。 The dweller in ether is chiefly distinguished from the mundane mortal by his acute senses and his ability
