I

a. Man the Machine. b. Personal Merit

[The Old Man and the Young Man had been conversing. The Old
Man had declared that the human being is simply a machine, and
nothing more. The Young Man objected, and asked him to go into
particulars and furnish his reasons for his position.]

Old Man. What are the materials of which a steam-engine is made?

Young Man. Iron, steel, brass, white-metal, and so on.

O.M. Wherever are these found?

Y.M. In the rocks.

O.M. In a pure state?

Y.M. No--in ores.

O.M. Are the metals suddenly deposited in the ores?

Y.M. No--it is the patient activity of infinite ages.

O.M. You could do the engine out of the rocks themselves?

Y.M. Yes, a brittle one and not valuable.

O.M. Yo