"And They Were Speechless."
THE shortest of creeds is that of the man who believes only what he understands. It may be stated in four words: "I believe in nothing." He cannot believe in his own existence; for the greatest physiologists know not what life is. He does not believe in magnetism; for Prof. Tyndall says he has no theory to explain it. This pithy anecdote shows how such a person must be a universal skeptic:— "I will not believe anything but what I understand," said a self-confident young man. "Nor will I," said another. "Neither will I," chimed in a third party. "Gentlemen," said one who sat close by, "do I understand you correctly that you will not believe anything you don't understand?" "I will not," said one; and so said the others. "Well," said the stranger, "in my ride this morning I saw some geese in a field eating grass. Do you believe that?" "Certainly," said the three unbelievers. "I also saw the pigs eating grass. Do you believe that?" "Of course," said the three. "And I also saw sheep and cows eating grass. Do you believe that?" "Of course," was again replied. "Well, but the grass which they had formerly eaten had turned by digestion to feathers on the backs of the geese, to bristles on the backs of the pigs, to wool on the sheep, and on the cows had turned to hair. Do you believe that, gentlemen?" "Certainly," they replied. "Yes, you believe it," he rejoined; "but do you understand it?"