Retribution

444 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

blood is composed mainly of water, this distribution of the food within the body is made possible. Besides, as the processes of life go on, the tissues of the body break down and leave injurious

waste products. These, the blood dissolves; they are passed through the lungs where some are removed, those that remain are removed when the blood passes through the kidneys. When the blood is too thick, it becomes sluggish in its action, and the processes of building up the body, and of keeping it in good condition, are hindered or prevented. A large quantity of water is separated from the blood every day by the kidneys, and another large quantity is evaporated from the pores of the skin. There is, therefore, a constant tendency to thicken the blood, and, as a result; to make it sluggish. For the best health, a large quantity of water should be taken daily into the system: there is seldom any danger of drinking too much, for most people suffer because they do not drink enough. Death from want of water is directly due to an accumulation of injurious materials in various portions of the body, and an inability to remove them from the system. Further, the body, for its best health, must be kept at a certain temperature. Sudden changes of temperature will affect the body unfavorably. The body heat is produced by the burning of the food in the blood; and the water in the blood serves to take up the heat and to regulate the temperature. Water has a larger capacity for heat than most substances, and is not therefore subject to sudden temperature changes. In the summer, the water in the blood enables us to withstand excessive heat. The sun's rays warm the air, fall upon our bodies, and tend to make us uncomfortable; but part of the water in our blood evaporates, through the pores of the skin, and cools the body, and makes us comfortable. This is due to the fact that water will evaporate only when heat is given to it; on a hot summer day, the sweat coming out on the skin will draw from the body the heat needed for its evaporation. Thus we are cooled. Instances, showing the value of water to the animal and plant structures, and to inorganic nature, might be multiplied through many pages of this magazine. It would also be of interest to examine into the conditions upon which the suitability of

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water for drinking purposes depends; that subject falls without the purpose of the present writing. The object of this paper has been to show some of the general relations of the common substance, water, to the complexity of nature. There must come to all who look under the surface of things, the overpowering thought, that, after all, the mightiest changes, and the highest organizations of nature, are but variations of a few simple, usually well-known forces. Water is simple in composition, in structure, in behavior, yet it is essential to the things in nature that are most stupendous to our thoughts, and most complex to our senses. This world possesses a great variety of objects; still the majority seem to be only incidents in the scheme of creation. A few simple melodies skilfully combined, produce the great song of the universe. Is that another evidence of the supreme wisdom of Him who built the earth and placed man upon it?

GENIUS.

All the means of action The shapeless masses, the materials Lie everywhere about us. What we need Is the celestial fire to change the flint

Into transparent crystal, bright and clear. That fire is genius! The rude peasant sits At evening in his smoky cot, and draws With charcoal uncouth figures on the wall. The son of genius comes, footsore with travel, And begs a shelter from the inclement night. He takes the charcoal from the peasant's hand, And by the magic of his touch at once Transfigured, all its hidden virtues shine, And in the eyes of the astonished clown It gleams as diamond. Even thus transformed, Rude popular traditions and old tales Shine as immortal poems at the touch Of some poor houseless, homeless, wandering bard, Who had but a night's lodging for his pains. H. W. Longfellow.