It betrays a callousness to those suflferings and
emotions which are no less than human; how they
a6l when wounded, whether diving or running,
and what manner of defense they make; of song-
birds, how they endure the loss of the eggs, how one
will survive the loss of its mate taken as a specimen,
and whether or not they pine in captivity. That
such recountals should find any place in the life
histories of birds and mammals is as incongruous
as if in writing of the genus Homo we were to record
as pertinent fa^s, that man when confined in a
dungeon no longer sings and is dejedled, that
when his children are taken from him he is subjea
to uncontrollable grief and despair, that when
wounded, if defenseless he uses all stratagem to
escape, but if brought to bay will use tooth and
nail in his poor hope of life, and is then dangerous
to encounter.
It has been said that the tonic of nature is F Major.
When the wind speaks through the forest, when the
ocean resounds along the granite shore, it is thus they
speak; and the hum of great cities and the manifold
sounds of nature blend in this dominant major chord.
There is then one key to which Nature is attuned;
one keynote whose overtones range upward through
the spheres of insight and of sympathy; and who
dwells there must vibrate in unison. Strike the key-
note of a bridge and the tone of a violin may set the
structure in oscillation; strike the fundamental of
the Soul and there shall ensue a rhythmical vibration.
