" A man might reject the myths but
he would have to know many facts about its natural life and
have imagination as well as knowledge before entering into a
country's heart. The history of any land begins with nature,
and all histories must end with nature.
"The character of a country is the destiny of its people,"
wrote Harvey Fergusson in _Rio Grande_. Ross Calvin, also of
New Mexico, had the same idea in mind when he entitled his
book _Sky Determines_. "Culture mocks at the boundaries set up
by politics," Clark Wissler said. "It approaches geographical
boundaries with its hat in its hand." The engineering of water
across mountains, electric translation of sounds,
refrigeration of air and foods, and other technical
developments carry human beings a certain distance across some
of nature's boundaries, but no cleverness of science can
escape nature. The inhabitants of Yuma, Arizona, are destined
forever to face a desert devoid of graciousness. Technology
does not create matter; it merely uses matter in a skilful
way--uses it up.
Man advances by learning the secrets of nature and taking
advantage of his knowledge.
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