live; or it is no longer an animal. It
falls and reverts altogether to the element of matter. The processes
of decomposition and incorporation are longer, or shorter, according
to circumstances; and these fossil remains of which your writers say so
much, are merely cases that have met with accidental obstacles to
their final decomposition. As respects our two species, a very cursory
examination of their qualities ought to convince any candid mind of the
truth of our philosophy. Thus, the physical part of man is much greater
in proportion to the spiritual, than it is in the monikin; his habits
are grosser and less intellectual; he requires sauce and condiments
in his food; he is farther removed from simplicity, and, by necessary
implication, from high civilization; he eats flesh, a certain proof
that the material principle is still strong in the ascendant; he has no
cauda---"

"On this point, Dr. Reasono, I would inquire if your scholars attach any
weight to traditions?"

"The greatest possible, sir. It is the monikin tradition that our
species is composed of men refined, of diminished matter and augmented
minds, with the seat of reason extricated from the confinement and
confusion of the caput, and extended, unravelled, and rendered logical
and consecutive, in the cauda."

"Well, sir, WE too have our traditions; and an eminent writer, at no
great distance of time, has laid it down as incontrovertible, that men
once HAD caudae."

"A mere prophetic glance into the future, as coming events are known to
cast their shadows before."

"Sir, the philosopher in question establishes his position, by pointing
to the stumps."

"He has unluckily mistaken a foundation-stone for a ruin! Such errors
are not unfrequent with the ardent and ingenious. That men WILL have
tails, I make no doubt; but that they HAVE ever reached this point of
perfection, I do most solemnly deny. There are many premonitory symptoms
of their approaching this condition; the current opinions of the day,
the dress, habits, fashions, and philosophy of the species, encourage
the belief; but hitherto you have never reached the enviable
distinction. As to traditions, even your own are all in favor of our
theory. Thus, for instance, you have a tradition that the earth was once
peopled by giants. Now, this is owing to the fact that men were formerly
more under the influence of matter, and less under that of mind than
to day. You admit that you diminish in size,