Nature Is So Zealous That All Her Gifts Should Be
Used Properly, That It Is In Our Power To Develop Or To Kill In
Our Descendants Any Physical Or Mental Gift.
A systematic training
or a total disregard will accomplish both in the lifetime of a
few generations."
"Perfectly true; but that does not explain to me the secret charm
of your melodies...."
"These are details and particulars. Why should I dwell on them
when you must see for yourself that my reasoning gives you the clue,
which will solve many similar problems? Centuries have accustomed
the ear of a Hindu to be receptive only of certain combinations
of atmospheric vibrations; whereas the ear of a European is used
to perfectly different combinations. Hence the soul of the former
will be enraptured where the soul of the latter will be perfectly
indifferent. I hope my explanation has been simple and clear, and
I might have ended it here were it not that I am anxious to give
you something better than the feeling of satisfied curiosity. As
yet I have solved only the physiological aspect of the secret,
which is as easily admitted as the fact that we Hindus eat by the
handful spices which would give you inflammation of the intestines
if you happened to swallow a single grain. Our aural nerves, which,
at the beginning, were identical with yours, have been changed
through different training, and became as distinct from yours as
our complexion and our stomachs. Add to this that the eyes of
the Kashmir weavers, men and women, are able to distinguish three
hundred shades more than the eye of a European.... The force of
habit, the law of atavism, if you like.
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