5

course and health came back. The present visitation
is more serious, for the reason that it is no
mere feverish attach, not a mere fashion, but
is in great measure the outcome of a principle.
Now every principle, once entertained, possesses
vitality, until it is notoriously refuted; and
even after they have received their death blows
we have all had occasion to remark how long
life may linger in principles whose formulation
has been sonorous.

The principle in this case is a false notion
about reasoning arising from a confusion
of thought; an unfortunately science, at this
moment is ill-fortified against such an
invasion, since scientific men of today are, at this
time, on the average, less armed than their
forerunners were in with that logical acumen
which is necessary to detect a somewhat
subtle sophistry. I have been kept watch