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ld concerning God。 Once admitting that the Divine attributes may be （as they must be） incommensurably greater than human attributes； our faith that all things are working together for good may remain unimpugned。
To many minds such a faith will seem incompatible with belief in the ultimate destruction of sentiency amid the general doom of the material universe。 A good end can have no meaning to us save in relation to consciousness that distinguishes and knows the good from the evil。 There could be no better illustration of how we are hemmed in than the very inadequacy of the words with which we try to discuss this subject。 Such words have all gained their meanings from human experience； and hence of necessity carry anthropomorphic implications。 But we cannot help this。 We must think with the symbols with which experience has furnished us； and when we so think； there does seem to be little that is even intellectually satisfying in the awful picture which science shows us； of giant worlds concentrating out of 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