them. The gods of northern countries were represented warmly clad in
robes of fur; those of the tropics were naked. The gods of India were
often mounted upon elephants, those of some islanders were great
swimmers, and the deities of the Arctic zone were passionately fond of
whale's blubber. Nearly all people have carved or painted
representations of their gods, and these representations were, by the
lower classes generally treated as the real gods, and to these images
and idols they addressed prayers and offered sacrifice.

In some countries, even at this day, if the people after long praying
do not obtain their desires, they turn their images off as impotent
gods, or upbraid them in a most reproachful manner, loading them with
blows and curses. 'How now, dog of a spirit,' they say, 'we give you
lodging in a magnificent temple, we gild you with gold, feed you with
the choicest food, and offer incense to you; yet, after all this care,
you are so ungrateful as to refuse us what we ask.' Hereupon they will
pull the god down and drag him through the filth of the street. If, in
the meantime, it happens that they obtain their request, then with a
great deal of ceremony, they wash him clean, carry him back and place
him in his temple again, where they fall down and make excuses for what
they have done. 'Of a truth,' they say, 'we were a little too hasty,
and you were a little too long in your grant. Why should you bring this
beating on yourself. But what is done cannot be undone.' Let us not
think of it any more. If you will forget what is past, we will gild you
over brighter again than before.

Man has never been at a loss for gods. He has worshiped almost
everything, including the vilest and most disgusting beasts. He has
worshiped fire, earth, air, water, light, stars, and for hundreds of
ages, prostrated himself before enormous snakes. Savage tribes often