208 FIFTEENTH EVENING.

quence of this discovery, man cooks his food, which no
other animal does. He alone fences against the cold
by clothing as well as by fire. He alone cultivates the
earth, and keeps living animals for future uses.

CG. But have not there been wild men bred in the
woods that could do none of these things ?

F. Some instances of this nature are recorded, and
they are not to be wondered at; for man was meant
to be a gregarious animal, or one living in society, in
which alone his faculties have full scope, and especially
his power of improving by the use of speech. These
poor solitary creatures, brought up with the brutes,
were in a state entirely unnatural to them. Unless
from instinct, a solitary bee, ant, or beaver, would have |
none of the skill and sagacity of those animals in their
proper social condition. Thus it would appear that,
in. some instances, and under some circumstances,
reason and instinct are separated by a very narrow
line of demarcation. Society sharpens all the facul-
ties, and gives ideas and views which never could have
been entertained by an individual.

C. But some men that live in society seem to be
little above the brutes, at least, when compared to other
men. Whatis a Hottentot or a Bushman in compa-
rison to one of us?

Ff, The difference, indeed, is great; but we agree in
the most essential characters of man, and perhaps the
advantage is not all on our side. The Hottentot cul-
tivates the earth, and rears cattle. He not only herds
with his fellows, but he has instituted some sort of
government for the protection of the weak against the
strong. He has a notion of right and wrong, and is
sensible of the necessity of controlling present appe-.
tites and passions for the sake of a future good. He
has, therefore, morals. THe is possessed of weapons,
tools, clothing, and furniture, of his own making. In
agility of body, and the knowledge of various circum-
stances relative to the nature of animals, he surpasses -
us. His inferiority lies in those things in which many