tiful and the Ugly 106
Chapter XV. Nature Mysticism and the Race 117
Chapter XVI. Thales 123
Chapter XVII. The Waters under the Earth 129
Chapter XVIII. Springs and Wells 138
Chapter XIX. Brooks and Streams 145
Chapter XX. Rivers and Life 151
Chapter XXI. Rivers and Death 158
Chapter XXII. The Ocean 165
Chapter XXIII. Waves 172
Chapter XXIV. Still Waters 179
Chapter XXV. Anaximenes and the Air 187
Chapter XXVI. Winds and Clouds 192
Chapter XXVII. Heracleitus and the Cosmic Fire 203
Chapter XXVIII. Fire and the Sun 211
Chapter XXIX. Light and Darkness 222
Chapter XXX. The Expanse of Heaven--Colour 228
Chapter XXXI. The Moon--A Special Problem 235
Chapter XXXII. Earth, Mountains, and Plains 242
Chapter XXXIII. Seasons, Vegetation, Animals 248
Chapter XXXIV. Pragmatic 257

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY

A wave of Mysticism is passing over the civilised nations. It is
welcomed by many: by more it is mistrusted. Even the minds to
which it would naturally appeal are often restrained from
sympathy by fears of vague speculative driftings and of
transcendental emotionalism. Nor can it be doubted that such an
attitude of aloofness is at once reasonable and inevitable. For a
systematic exaltation of formless ecstasies, at the expense of
sense and intellect, has a tendency to become an infirmity if it
does not always betoken loss of mental balance. In order,
therefore, to disarm natural prejudice, let an opening chapter be
devoted to general exposition of aims and principles.

The subject is Nature Mysticism. The phenomena of "nature"
are to be studied in their mystical aspects. The wide term
Mysticism is used because, in spite of many misleading
associations, it is hard to replace. "Love of nature" is too
general: "cosmic emotion" is too specialised. But let it at once
be understood that the Mysticism here contemplated is neither
of the popular nor of the esoteric sort. In other words, it is not
loosely synonymous with the magical or s