In the same year he delivered at Altenburg a lecture on “Monism as a connecting link between religion and science.” In this he took a conciliatory line, and showed how his philosophic views could be reconciled with any really sincere pursuit of truth, whatever aim it professed to have. The address closed with the words: “May God, the spirit of the good, the beautiful, and the true, grant it.” However, both his criticism and his attempt at conciliation only led to further and more bitter attacks in certain quarters. His only reply was to bring out the first numbers of a fine illustrated work—a work that came from a quite different depth of his rich personality. This was the _Art-forms in Nature_ [not translated], a collection of beautiful forms of radiolaria, sponges, siphonophores, &c., for artists and admirers of the beautiful. It was a work such as he alone could produce. “In the storm didst thou begin: in the storm shalt thou end,” he might have said to himself, in the words of David Strauss. The storm never left him. In its mood was flung off with ready pen the _Riddle of the Universe_. “Up, old warrior, gird thy loins!” as we read in Strauss. Footnote 8: Literally, the title is “World-Riddles,” or “World-Problems.” [Trans.] [Illustration: ERNST HAECKEL, 1896. _From a photograph by Gabriel Max._ ] The biographical sketch of a living man does not close with a stroke, but with three stars. They glow still, these stars. Under their influence much may yet happen—much struggle, much peace. In view of the general situation of our time there is little hope that the last stretch of this extraordinary career will be spent in peace, though behind it all lies the peace-loving soul of an artist. But if Haeckel’s career is to be one of struggle to the last hour, he may console himself with the noble words of Goethe:— “And when at length the long gray lashes fall A gentle light will broaden o’er the scene, In whose effulgence our remoter sons Will read the lineaments of yonder stars, And in the loftier view to which they rise Of God and man a loftier image hold.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER VIII THE CROWNING YEARS [By JOSEPH MCCABE]