THE PUZZLED PHILOSOPHER.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 96, 15 July 1882, Page 281

THE PUZZLED PHILOSOPHER.

AITEB A CONSIDERATION OP " 3IAN'S OKIGTN AND DESTINY." I sat within the Lornc-sti*eet Hall And heard the words of learning fall, Which told how, million years ago, Life on the GHobe began to grow ; Till after countless years on years Amid the chiming of the spheres, The purpose was complete, and Man Appeared to crown the wondrous plan ! This point was reached, as Avell we know A hundred thousand years ago, — Long, long, ere Adam's years began And earth beheld a " perfect man." Since then Mankind has still advanced ; And Fancy's eye can see, entranced, How high his future state shall be When Man fulfills his destiny ! Another night, at Duty's call, I sat within a different hall, And saw upon a painted stage, Sham niggers in sham equipage, Who kicked and danced and rudely sang ; While hundred-voiced applauses rang To see " the one-legged gymnast" spin, Like whirligig, around a pin ! I thought — " A hundred thousand years, And this the fruit ! Can eyes and ears Deceive ? Can what I seem to see And hear, be nought but Phantasy ? Or is our Science all astray And Man a waif of yesterday — Our loudly-boasted Progress nil, And Man a rude Barbarian still ?" - hundred thousand years ! Ye gods ! j-/ook not from your serene abodes On us poor grovelling worms who crawl Upon this sub-celestial ball, And prate about onr noble race, And heavenly form, and godlike face, : And that great Progress which appears The fruit of hundred thousand years ! Oh, men, who such a lineage claim, At least be worthy of the name ; . Be worthy of your noble Past And of the Future you forecast. . While war and Eapine bear their fruits ' Men still are near akin to brutes.; How long ere perfect Man appears ? Another hundred thousand years ?