outset; as a ship, according to M. C. L. Meyher, moves fastest when the bow is made larger than the stern.
It should be noted in passing that all
creatures that are called upon to move rapidly
through a fluid are much slenderer behind
than before, and it should be added
that forms that are too slender in front are
quite unsuited for great speeds. This may
easily be demonstrated, but would take us
too far from our subject for the moment.
We should only say that it is difficult to understand
why designers so often persist in
giving to vessels forms that are more slender
in the bow than in the stern, when the contrary
should be the case.—Revue Generale des Sciences.
(3031)
Spelling at Fault—See Illiteracy.
SPHINX, THE
Out of the changeful fury of the tide-rifts streaming by
Wilt build thee, O world, a place of peace, and show God by and by?
Or all the riot of roses and the loves that escape control,
Are they rainbows shed on a melting cloud from the central sun of my soul?
O musical storms and stars, do ye strike wild chords unplanned?
Or is there a master-musician, who leads with uplifted hand?
If a God's will shape the heavens, is He perfect, boundless, free?
Or feel He the bondage of violent dust? Does He suffer and strive like me?
I know that I never shall answer the riddles that haunt the mind,
I see but a spark of the infinite flame—to all the rest born blind.
Yet envy I not the gazers who boast of their clearer sight;
For safer I walk if I know I am blind, than calling the darkness light.
For all my riddle unanswered, for all my blindness known,
I would rather keep asking the secret than to make it all my own.
I believe that the stir of the questions is the spirit's ultimate breath.
All life is a passionate question. Wilt thou not answer it, Death?
—Theodore C. Williams, Unity.
(3032)
Spiders and Music—See Music and Spiders.
Spider as a Barometer—See Indicator,
An Insect.
Spiders, The Value of—See Balance
Preserved in Nature.
SPIRIT AND FORM
Religion may be compared to a banana.
The real heart religion is the juicy pulp;
the forms and ceremonies are the skin.
While the two are united and undivided the
banana keeps good until it is used. And so
it is with religion. Separate the forms from
the spirit, and the one will be of no more
value than the banana husk, while the latter
will speedily decay and become corrupt, apart
from the outward expression.—Arthur T.
Pierson.
(3033)
SPIRIT, FRUIT OF
How beautiful on paper are the flowers
delineated in many a seedman's catalog, but
what disappointment sometimes ensues when
it is found that their actual growth comes
far short of the printed description! It is
never so with the fruits of the Spirit, of
which Paul gives a list. All the grace described
in his catalog brings forth glory that
answers fully to the promise. The divine
Spirit never disappoints and the grace of
God can not fail. (Text.)
(3034)
Spirit Manifestation a Power—See Consistency.
SPIRIT MORE THAN BODY
One of America's prominent astronomers
is only four feet high, and would hardly
outweigh a boy of ten years. But there are
few who could outweigh him in intellect and
achievement. Alexander H. Stephens, with
a dwarf's body, did a giant's work. With
only a broken scythe, by sheer force of will
and work, he overmatched in the harvest
those who had fine mowing-machines.
(3035)
SPIRIT, THE SPARK OF
Recently, I visited Fort Monroe and was
taken through those interesting barracks.
An officer pointing out a great gun said to
me, "With that we could tear to pieces yonder
wall of stone and destroy many lives
thousands of yards away." A friend standing
near said, "Not so, that gun in itself is
powerless." "Oh," the officer exclaimed, "of
course, we must first place the powder and
