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exists as the prey of another… even a plant suffers from disease till it
perishes prematurely； while the plant next to it rejoices in its vitality and
lives out its happy life free from a pang。 That it is an erroneous analogy
from human infirmities to reply by saying that the Supreme Being only
acts by general laws； thereby making his own secondary causes so potent
as to mar the essential kindness of the First Cause； and a still meaner and
more ignorant conception of the All…Good； to dismiss with a brief
contempt all consideration of justice for the myriad forms into which He
has infused life； and assume that justice is only due to the single product
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of the An。 There is no small and no great in the eyes of the divine Life…
Giver。 But once grant that nothing； however humble； which feels that it
lives and suffers； can perish through the series of ages； that all its suffering
here； if continuous from the moment of its birth to that of its transfer to
another form of being； would be more brief compared with eternity than
the cry of the new…born is compared to the whole life of a man； and once
suppose that this living thing retains its sense of identity when so
transformed （for without that sense it could be aware of no future being）；
and though； indeed； the fulfilment of divine justice is removed from the
scope of our ken； yet we have a right to assume it to be uniform and
universal； and not varying and partial； as it would be if acting only upon
general and secondary laws； because such perfect justice flows of
necessity from perfectness of knowledge to conceive； perfectness of love
to will； and perfectness of power to complete it。 58 However fantastic this
belief of the Vril…ya may be； it tends perhaps to confirm politically the
systems of government which； admitting different degrees of wealth； yet
establishes perfect equality in rank； exquisite mildness in all relations and
intercourse； and tenderness to all created things which the good of the
community does not require them to destroy。 And though their notion of
compensation to a tortured insect or a cankered flower may seem to some
of us a very wild crotchet； yet； at least； is not a mischievous one； and it
may furnish matter for no unpleasing reflection to think that within the
abysses of earth； never lit by a ray from the material heavens； there should
have penetrated so luminous a conviction of the ineffable goodness of the
Creator… so fixed an idea that the general laws by which He acts cannot
admit of any partial injustice or evil； and therefore cannot be
comprehended without reference to their action over all space and
throughout all time。 And since； as I shall have occasion to observe later；
the intellectual conditions and social systems of this subterranean race
comprise and harmonise great； and apparently antagonistic； varieties in
philosophical doctrine and speculation which have from time to time been
started； discussed； dismissed； and have re…appeared amongst thinkers or
dreamers in the upper world；… so I may perhaps appropriately conclude
this reference to the belief of the Vril…ya； that self…conscious or sentient
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life once given is indestructible among inferior creatures as well as in man；
by an eloquent passage from the work of that eminent zoologist； Louis
Agassiz； which I have only just met with； many years after I had
committed to paper these recollections of the life of the Vril…ya which I
now reduce into something like arrangement and form： 〃The relations
which individual animals bear to one another are of such a character that
they ought long ago to have been considered as sufficient proof that no
organised being could ever have been called into existence by other
agency than 59by the direct intervention of a reflective mind。 This
argues strongly in favour of the existence in every animal of an immaterial
principle similar to that which by its excellence and superior endowments
places man so much above the animals； yet the principle unquestionably
exists； and whether it be called sense； reason； or instinct； it presents in the
whole range of organised beings a series of phenomena closely linked
together； and upon it are based not only the higher manifestations of the
mind； but the very permanence of the specific differences which
characterise every organism。 Most of the arguments in favour of the
immortality of man apply equally to the permanency of this principle in
other living beings。 May I not add that a future life in which man would
be deprived of that great source of enjoyment and intellectual and moral
improvement which results from the contemplation of the harmonies of an
organic world would involve a lamentable loss？ And may we not look to a
spiritual concert of the combined worlds and ALL their inhabitants in the
presence of their Creator as the highest conception of paradise？〃… 'Essay
on Classification；' sect。 xvii。 p。 97…99。
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CHAPTER XV。
Kind to me as I found all in this household； the young daughter of my
host was the most considerate and thoughtful in her kindness。 At her
suggestion I laid aside the habiliments in which I had descended from the
upper earth； and adopted the dress of the Vril…ya； with the exception of the
artful wings which served them； when on foot； as a graceful mantle。 But
as many of the Vril…ya； when occupied in urban pursuits； did not wear
these wings； this exception created no marked difference between myself
and the race among whom I sojourned； and I was thus enabled to visit the
town without exciting unpleasant 60curiosity。 Out of the household no
one suspected that I had come from the upper world； and I was but
regarded as one of some inferior and barbarous