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will not envy Glaucus： we will not even be over…anxious for the
success of his only modern imitator； the French naturalist who is
reported to have fitted himself with a waterproof dress and
breathing apparatus； in order to walk the bottom of the
Mediterranean； and see for himself how the world goes on at the
fifty…fathom line： we will be content with the wonders of the
shore and of the sea…floor； as far as the dredge will discover them
to us。 We shall even thus find enough to occupy （if we choose） our
lifetime。 For we must recollect that this hasty sketch has hardly
touched on that vegetable water…world； which is as wonderful and as
various as the animal one。 A hint or two of the beauty of the sea…
weeds has been given； but space has allowed no more。 Yet we might
have spent our time with almost as much interest and profit； had we
neglected utterly the animals which we have found； and devoted our
attention exclusively to the flora of the rocks。 Sea…weeds are no
mere playthings for children； and to buy at a shop some thirty
pretty kinds； pasted on paper； with long names （probably mis…spelt）
written under each； is not by any means to possess a collection of
them。 Putting aside the number and the obscurity of their species；
the questions which arise in studying their growth； reproduction；
and organic chemistry are of the very deepest and most important in
the whole range of science； and it will need but a little study of
such a book as Harvey's 〃Algae；〃 to show the wise man that he who
has comprehended （which no man yet does） the mystery of a single
spore or tissue…cell； has reached depths in the great 〃Science of
Life〃 at which an Owen would still confess himself 〃blind by excess
of light。〃 〃Knowest thou how the bones grow in the womb？〃 asks the
Jewish sage； sadly； half self…reprovingly； as he discovers that man
is not the measure of all things； and that in much learning may be
vanity and vexation of spirit； and in much study a weariness of the
flesh； and all our deeper physical science only brings the same
question more awfully near。 〃Vilior alg？〃 more worthless than the
very sea…weed； says the old Roman： and yet no torn scrap of that
very sea…weed； which to…morrow may manure the nearest garden； but
says to us； 〃Proud man！ talking of spores and vesicles； if thou
darest for a moment to fancy that to have seen spores and vesicles
is to have seen me； or to know what I am； answer this。 Knowest
thou how the bones do grow in the womb？ Knowest thou even how one
of these tiny black dots； which thou callest spores； grow on my
fronds？〃 And to that question what answer shall we make？ We see
tissues divide； cells develop； processes go on … but How and Why？
These are but phenomena； but what are phenomena save effects？
Causes； it may be； of other effects； but still effects of other
causes。 And why does the cause cause that effect？ Why should it
not cause something else？ Why should it cause anything at all？
Because it obeys a law。 But why does it obey the law？ and how does
it obey the law？ And； after all； what is a law？ A mere custom of
Nature。 We see the same phenomenon happen a great many times； and
we infer from thence that it has a custom of happening； and
therefore we call it a law： but we have not seen the law； all we
have seen is the phenomenon which we suppose to indicate the law。
We have seen things fall： but we never saw a little flying thing
pulling them down； with 〃gravitation〃 labelled on its back； and the
question； why things fall； and HOW； is just where it was before
Newton was born； and is likely to remain there。 All we can say is；
that Nature has her customs； and that other customs ensue； when
those customs appear： but that as to what connects cause and
effect； as to what is the reason； the final cause； or even the
CAUSA CAUSANS； of any phenomenon； we know not more but less than
ever； for those laws or customs which seem to us simplest
（〃endosmose；〃 for instance； or 〃gravitation〃）； are just the most
inexplicable； logically unexpected； seemingly arbitrary； certainly
supernatural … miraculous； if you will； for no natural and physical
cause whatsoever can be assigned for them； while if anyone shall
argue against their being miraculous and supernatural on the ground
of their being so common； I can only answer； that of all absurd and
illogical arguments； this is the most so。 For what has the number
of times which the miracle occurs to do with the question； save to
increase the wonder？ Which is more strange； that an inexplicable
and unfathomable thing should occur once and for all； or that it
should occur a million times every day all the world over？
Let those； however； who are too proud to wonder； do as seems good
to them。 Their want of wonder will not help them toward the
required explanation： and to them； as to us； as soon as we begin
asking； 〃HOW？〃 and 〃WHY？〃 the mighty Mother will only reply with
that magnificent smile of hers； most genial； but most silent； which
she has worn since the foundation of all worlds； that silent smile
which has tempted many a man to suspect her of irony； even of
deceit and hatred of the human race； the silent smile which Solomon
felt； and answered in 〃Ecclesiastes；〃 which Goethe felt； and did
not answer in his 〃Faust；〃 which Pascal felt； and tried to answer
in his 〃Thoughts；〃 and fled from into self…torture and
superstition； terrified beyond his powers of endurance； as he found
out the true meaning of St。 John's vision； and felt himself really
standing on that fragile and slippery 〃sea of glass；〃 and close
beneath him the bottomless abyss of doubt； and the nether fires of
moral retribution。 He fled from Nature's silent smile； as that
poor old King Edward （mis…called the Confessor） fled from her hymns
of praise； in the old legend of Havering…atte…bower； when he cursed
the nightingales because their songs confused him in his prayers：
but the wise man need copy neither； and fear neither the silence
nor the laughter of the mighty mother Earth； if he will be but
wise； and hear her tell him； alike in both … 〃Why call me mother？
Why ask me for knowledge which I cannot teach； peace which I cannot
give or take away？ I am only your foster…mother and your nurse …
and I have not been an unkindly one。 But you are God's children；
and not mine。 Ask Him。 I can amuse you with my songs； but they
are but a nurse's lullaby to the weary flesh。 I can awe you with
my silence； but my silence is only my just humility； and your gain。
How dare I pretend to tell you secrets which He who made me knows
alone？ I am but inanimate matter； why ask of me things which
belong to living spirit？ In God I live and move； and have my
being； I know not how； any more than you know。 Who will tell you
what life is； save He who is the Lord of life？ And if He will not
tell you； be sure it is because you need not to know。 At least；
why seek God in nature； the living among the dead？ He is not here：
He is risen。〃
He is not here： He is risen。 Good reader； you will probably agree
that to know that saying； is to know the key…note of the world to
come。 Believe me； to know it； and all it means； is to know the
keynote of this world also； from the fall of dynasties and the fate
of nations； to the sea…weed which rots upon the beach。
It may seem startling； possibly （though I hope not； for my readers'
sake； irreverent）； to go back at once after such thoughts； be they
true or false； to the weeds upon the cliff above our heads。 But He
who is not here； but is risen； yet is here； and has appointed them
their services in a wonderful order； and I wish that on some day；
or on many days； when a quiet sea and offshore breezes have
prevented any new objects from coming to land with the rising tide；
you would investigate the flowers peculiar to our sea…rocks and
sandhills。 Even if you do not find the delicate lily…like
Trichonema of the Channel Islands and Dawlish； or the almost as
beautiful Squill of the Cornish cliffs； or the sea…lavender of
North Devon； or any of those rare Mediterranean species which Mr。
Johns has so charmingly described in his 〃Week at the Lizard
Point；〃 yet an average cliff； with its carpeting of pink thrift and
of bladder catchfly； and Lady's finger； and elegant grasses； most
of them peculiar to the sea marge； is often a very lovely flower…
bed。
Not merely interesting； too； but brilliant in their vegetation are
sandhills； and the seemingly desolate dykes and banks of salt
marshes will yield many a curious plant； which you may neglect if
you will： but lay to your account the having to repent your
neglect hereafter； when； finding out too late what a pleasant study
botany is； you search in vain for curious forms over which you trod
every day in crossing flats which