Thedebatewhichensuedwasinitsscopeandprogressanepitomeofthecourseoflife。Neitherplacenorcouncilwaslackingindignity。Thedebaterswerethekeenestintheland，thethemetheywereengagedontheloftiestandmostvital。ThehighhallofHorne’shousehadneverbeheldanassemblysorepresentativeandsovariednorhadtheoldraftersofthatestablishmenteverlistenedtoalanguagesoencyclopaedic。Agallantsceneintruthitmade。CrotherswasthereatthefootofthetableinhisstrikingHighlandgarb，hisfaceglowingfromthebrinyairsoftheMullofGalloway。Theretoo，oppositetohimwasLynch，whosecountenanceborealreadythestigmataofearlydepravityandprematurewisdom。NexttheScotchmanwastheplaceassignedtoCostello，theeccentric，whileathissidewasseatedinstolidreposethesquatformofMadden。ThechairoftheresidentindeedstoodvacantbeforethehearthbutoneitherflankofitthefigureofBannoninexplorer’skitoftweedshortsandsaltedcowhidebroguescontrastedsharplywiththeprimroseeleganceandtownbredmannersofMalachiRolandStJohnMulligan。LastlyattheheadoftheboardwastheyoungpoetwhofoundarefugefromhislaboursofpedagogyandmetaphysicalinquisitionintheconvivialatmosphereofSocraticdiscussion，whiletorightandleftofhimwereaccommodatedtheflippantprognosticator，freshfromthehippodrome，andthatvigilantwanderer，soiledbythedustoftravelandcombatandstainedbythemireofanindelibledishonour，butfromwhosesteadfastandconstantheartnolureorperilorthreatordegradationcouldevereffacetheimageofthatvoluptuouslovelinesswhichtheinspiredpencilofLafayettehaslimnedforagesyettocome。
IthadbetterbestatedhereandnowattheoutsetthatthepervertedtranscendentalismtowhichMrS。Dedalus’Div。Scep。contentionswouldappeartoprovehimprettybadlyaddictedrunsdirectlycountertoacceptedscientificmethods。Science，itcannotbetoooftenrepeated，dealswithtangiblephenomena。Themanofsciencelikethemaninthestreethastofacehardheadedfactsthatcannotbeblinkedandexplainthemasbesthecan。Theremaybe，itistrue，somequestionswhichsciencecannotanswer-atpresent-suchasthefirstproblemsubmittedbyMrL。BloomPubb。
Canv。regardingthefuturedeterminationofsex。MustweaccepttheviewofEmpedoclesofTrinacriathattherightovarythepostmenstrualperiod，assertothersisresponsibleforthebirthofmalesorarethetoolongneglectedspermatozoaornemaspermsthedifferentiatingfactorsorisit，asmostembryologistsinclinetoopine，suchasCulpepper，Spallanzani，Blumenbach，Lusk，Hertwig，LeopoldandValenti，amixtureofboth？Thiswouldbetantamounttoacooperationoneofnature’sfavouritedevices
betweenthenisusformativusofthenemaspermontheonehandandontheotherahappilychosenposition，succubitusfelix，ofthepassiveelement。Theotherproblemraisedbythesameinquirerisscarcelylessvital：infantmortality。Itisinterestingbecause，ashepertinentlyremarks，weareallborninthesamewaybutwealldieindifferentways。
MrM。MulliganHyg。etEug。Doc。blamesthesanitaryconditionsinwhichourgreylungedcitizenscontractadenoids，pulmonarycomplaintsetc。byinhalingthebacteriawhichlurkindust。Thesefacts，healleges，andtherevoltingspectaclesofferedbyourstreets，hideouspublicityposters，religiousministersofalldenominations，mutilatedsoldiersandsailors，exposedscorbuticcardrivers，thesuspendedcarcasesofdeadanimals，paranoicbachelorsandunfructifiedduennas-these，hesaid，wereaccountableforanyandeveryfallingoffinthecalibreoftherace。Kalipedia，heprophesied，wouldsoonbegenerallyadoptedandallthegracesoflife，genuinelygoodmusic，agreeableliterature，lightphilosophy，instructivepictures，plastercastreproductionsoftheclassicalstatuessuchasVenusandApollo，artisticcolouredphotographsofprizebabies，alltheselittleattentionswouldenableladieswhowereinaparticularconditiontopasstheinterveningmonthsinamostenjoyablemanner。MrJ。CrotthersDisc。Bacc。attributessomeofthesedemisestoabnormaltraumainthecaseofwomenworkerssubjectedtoheavylaboursintheworkshopandtomaritaldisciplineinthehomebutbyfarthevastmajoritytoneglect，privateorofficial，culminatingintheexposureofnewborninfants，thepracticeofcriminalabortionorintheatrociouscrimeofinfanticide。AlthoughtheformerwearethinkingofneglectisundoubtedlyonlytootruethecasehecitesofnursesforgettingtocountthespongesIntheperitonealcavityistooraretobenormative。
Infactwhenonecomestolookintoitthewonderisthatsomanypregnanciesanddeliveriesgooffsowellastheydo，allthingsconsideredandinspiteofourhumanshortcomingswhichoftenbalknatureinherintentions。
AningenioussuggestionisthatthrownoutbyMrV。LynchBacc。Arith。
thatbothnatalityandmortality，aswellasallotherphenomenaofevolution，tidalmovements，lunarphases，bloodtemperatures，diseasesingeneral，everything，infine，innature’svastworkshopfromtheextinctionofsomeremotesuntotheblossomingofoneofthecountlessflowerswhichbeautifyourpublicparks，issubjecttoalawofnumerationasyetunascertained。
Stilltheplainstraightforwardquestionwhyachildofnormallyhealthyparentsandseeminglyahealthychildandproperlylookedaftersuccumbsunaccountablyinearlychildhoodthoughotherchildrenofthesamemarriagedonotmustcertainly，inthepoet’swords，giveuspause。Nature，wemayrestassured，hasherowngoodandcogentreasonsforwhatevershedoesandinallprobabilitysuchdeathsareduetosomelawofanticipationbywhichorganismsinwhichmorbousgermshavetakenuptheirresidencemodernsciencehasconclusivelyshownthatonlytheplasmicsubstancecanbesaidtobeimmortaltendtodisappearatanincreasinglyearlierstageofdevelopment，anarrangement，which，thoughproductiveofpaintosomeofourfeelingsnotablythematernal，isnevertheless，someofusthink，inthelongrunbeneficialtotheraceingeneralinsecuringtherebythesurvivalofthefittest。MrS。Dedalus’Div。Scep。remarkorshoulditbecalledaninterruption？thatanomnivorousbeingwhichcanmasticate，deglute，digestandapparentlypassthroughtheordinarychannelwithpluterperfectimperturbabilitysuchmultifariousalimentsascancrenousfemalesemaciatedbyparturition，corpulentprofessionalgentlemen，nottospeakofjaundicedpoliticiansandchloroticnuns，mightpossiblyfindgastricreliefinaninnocentcollationofstaggeringbob，revealsasnoughtelsecouldandinaveryunsavourylightthetendencyabovealludedto。Fortheenlightenmentofthosewhoarenotsointimatelyacquaintedwiththeminutiaeofthemunicipalabattoirasthismorbidmindedestheteandembryophilosopherwhoforallhisoverweeningbumptiousnessinthingsscientificcanscarcelydistinguishanacidfromanalkaliprideshimselfonbeing，itshouldperhapsbestatedthatstaggeringbobinthevileparlanceofourlowerclasslicensedvictuallerssignifiesthecookableandeatablefleshofacalfnewlydroppedfromitsmother。InarecentpubliccontroversywithMrL。BloomPubb。Canv。whichtookplaceinthecommons’halloftheNationalMaternityHospital，29，30and31Hollesstreet，ofwhich，asiswellknown，DrA。HorneLic。inMdw。，F。K。Q。
C。P。I。istheableandpopularmaster，heisreportedbyeyewitnessesashavingstatedthatonceawomanhasletthecatintothebaganestheticallusion，presumably，tooneofthemostcomplicatedandmarvellousofallnature’sprocesses，theactofsexualcongressshemustletitoutagainorgiveitlife，ashephrasedit，tosaveherown。Attheriskofherownwasthetellingrejoinderofhisinterlocutornonethelesseffectiveforthemoderateandmeasuredtoneinwhichitwasdelivered。
Meanwhiletheskillandpatienceofthephysicianhadbroughtaboutahappyaccouchement。Ithadbeenawearywearywhilebothforpatientanddoctor。Allthatsurgicalskillcoulddowasdoneandthebravewomanhadmanfullyhelped。Shehad。Shehadfoughtthegoodfightandnowshewasveryveryhappy。Thosewhohavepassedon，whohavegonebefore，arehappytooastheygazedownandsmileuponthetouchingscene。Reverentlylookatherasshereclinestherewiththemotherlightinhereyes，thatlonginghungerforbabyfingersaprettysightitistosee，inthefirstbloomofhernewmotherhood，breathingasilentprayerofthanksgivingtoOneabove，theUniversalHusband。Andasherlovingeyesbeholdherbabeshewishesonlyoneblessingmore，tohaveherdearDoadytherewithhertoshareherjoy，tolayinhisarmsthatmiteofGod’sclay，thefruitoftheirlawfulembraces。HeisoldernowyouandImaywhisperitandatriflestoopedintheshouldersyetinthewhirligigofyearsagravedignityhascometotheconscientioussecondaccountantoftheUlsterbank，CollegeGreenbranch。ODoady，lovedoneofold，faithfullifematenow，itmayneverbeagain，thatfarofftimeoftheroses！Withtheoldshakeofherprettyheadsherecallsthosedays。God，howbeautifulnowacrossthemistofyears！Buttheirchildrenaregroupedinherimaginationaboutthebedside，hersandhis，Charley，MaryAlice，FrederickAlbertifhehadlived，Mamy，BudgyVictoriaFrances，Tom，VioletConstanceLouisa，darlinglittleBobsycalledafterourfamousherooftheSouthAfricanwar，lordBobsofWaterfordandCandaharandnowthislastpledgeoftheirunion，aPurefoyifevertherewasone，withthetruePurefoynose。YounghopefulwillbechristenedMortimerEdwardaftertheinfluentialthirdcousinofMrPurefoyintheTreasuryRemembrancer’soffice，DublinCastle。
Andsotimewagson：butfatherCronionhasdealtlightlyhere。No，letnosighbreakfromthatbosom，deargentleMina。AndDoady，knocktheashesfromyourpipe，theseasonedbriaryoustillfancywhenthecurfewringsforyoumayitbethedistantday！anddoutthelightwherebyyoureadintheSacredBookfortheoiltoohasrunlowandsowithatranquilhearttobed，torest。HeknowsandwillcallinHisowngoodtime。Youtoohavefoughtthegoodfightandplayedloyallyyourman’spart。Sir，toyoumyhand。Welldone，thougoodandfaithfulservant！
Therearesinsorletuscallthemastheworldcallsthemevilmemorieswhicharehiddenawaybymaninthedarkestplacesoftheheartbuttheyabidethereandwait。Hemaysuffertheirmemorytogrowdim，letthembeasthoughtheyhadnotbeenandallbutpersuadehimselfthattheywerenotoratleastwereotherwise。Yetachancewordwillcallthemforthsuddenlyandtheywillriseuptoconfronthiminthemostvariouscircumstances，avisionoradream，orwhiletimbrelandharpsoothehissensesoramidthecoolsilvertranquillityoftheeveningoratthefeastatmidnightwhenheisnowfilledwithwine。Nottoinsultoverhimwillthevisioncomeasoveronethatliesunderherwrath，notforvengeancetocutofffromthelivingbutshroudedinthepiteousvestureofthepast，silent，remote，reproachful。
Thestrangerstillregardedonthefacebeforehimaslowrecessionofthatfalsecalmthere，imposed，asitseemed，byhabitorsomestudiedtrick，uponwordssoembitteredastoaccuseintheirspeakeranunhealthiness，aflair，forthecruderthingsoflife。Ascenedisengagesitselfintheobserver’smemory，evoked，itwouldseem，byawordofsonaturalahomelinessasifthosedayswerereallypresentthereassomethought
withtheirimmediatepleasures。AshavenspaceoflawnonesoftMayevening，thewellrememberedgroveoflilacsatRoundtown，purpleandwhite，fragrantslenderspectatorsofthegamebutwithmuchrealinterestinthepelletsastheyrunslowlyforwardovertheswardorcollideandstop，onebyitsfellow，withabriefalertshock。Andyonderaboutthatgreyurnwherethewatermovesattimesinthoughtfulirrigationyousawanotherasfragrantsisterhood，Floey，Atty，TinyandtheirdarkerfriendwithIknownotwhatofarrestinginherposethen，OurLadyoftheCherries，acomelybraceofthempendentfromanear，bringingouttheforeignwarmthoftheskinsodaintilyagainstthecoolardentfruit。Aladoffourorfiveinlinseywoolseyblossomtimebuttherewillbecheerinthekindlyhearthwhenerelongthebowlsaregatheredandhutchedisstandingontheurnsecuredbythatcircleofgirlishfondhands。Hefrownsalittlejustasthisyoungmandoesnowwithaperhapstooconsciousenjoymentofdangerbutmustneedsglanceatwhilestowardswherehismotherwatchesfromthepiazzettagivingupontheflower-closewithafaintshadowofremotenessorofreproachallesVergä；nghcheinhergladlook。
Markthisfartherandremember。Theendcomessuddenly。Enterthatantechamberofbirthwherethestudiousareassembledandnotetheirfaces。Nothing，asitseems，thereofrashorviolent。Quietudeofcustodyrather，befittingtheirstationinthathouse，thevigilantwatchofshepherdsandofangelsaboutacribinBethlehemofJudalongago。Butasbeforethelightningtheserriedstormclouds，heavywithpreponderantexcessofmoisture，inswollenmassesturgidlydistended，compassearthandskyinonevastslumber，impendingaboveparchedfieldanddrowsyoxenandblightedgrowthofshrubandverduretillinaninstantaflashrivestheircentresandwiththereverberationofthethunderthecloudburstpoursitstorrent，soandnototherwisewasthetransformation，violentandinstantaneous，upontheutteranceoftheWord。
Burke’s！OutflingsmylordStephen，givingthecry，andatagandbobtailofallthemafter，cockerel，jackanapes，welsher，pilldoctor，punctualBloomatheelswithauniversalgrabbingatheadgear，ashplants，bilbos，Panamahatsandscabbards，Zermattalpenstocksandwhatnot。Adedaleoflustyyouth，nobleeverystudentthere。NurseCallantakenabackinthehallwaycannotstaythemnorsmilingsurgeoncomingdownstairswithnewsofplacentationended，afullpoundifamilligramme。Theyharkhimon。