Does it love? Does it derive happiness when it is able to labor to make happy its fly Juliet? Does it want to live because it is ambitious and is trying to excel other flies? Does it really think to better its species and solve the problem of its kind? Is there a fly family to mourn its death? While watching that fly and asking myself these questions, I was convinced of the following _truths_: That the force that we call life is the same that animates the fly. That it, too, has control of its muscles and nerves in the same proportion as we have control of ours. That it, too, possesses the five senses and adds to its tiny brain more intelligence through its experiences. Within the movements and actions of that fly was wrapped up the secret of "Whence did I come, and whither am I going?" As I released my attention from that fly, I muttered to myself: "The more I look at insects, the more I think I am one." For what purpose do _we_ arise in the morning, fill our stomachs with food, till the fields, and perform labor in exchange for nourishment, in the evening fall into a sleep from exertion, arise the next day, and perform the same routine, day in and day out, week in and week out, year in and year out, and at the age and in the heyday of physical development seek an outlet in the opposite sex for the strongest impulse that Nature has implanted in us? This impulse forces us to commit rape and murder, robbery and assault, and to violate every principle of honor that man has tried to establish for the betterment and advancement of the race. With the dissipation of this mighty sex force, we subside and decline into weakness and decay, only to pass into death and oblivion. What a fearful, wasted effort is this life! IV The system of nourishment that Nature has imposed upon the world is not only stupid and malicious, but also of a cannibalistic character. We, as frail human beings, are horrified and shocked to think that our ancestors trafficked in and delighted in eating the flesh of their race, and even to-day we are making a strenuous effort to discourage the barbarous custom of killing animals to eat their flesh, yet it seems a dictate of Nature that forces us to uphold that custom. Just think of it! Nourishment and life-sustaining forces are derived from eating the cooked flesh of a dead animal, the unborn fowl, the bowels of the lamb, and the eggs of the fish! Can you imagine the wildness of life in such a jungle of cannibalism? No wonder the savage instinct is so deeply implanted in us.