Before "New Age" there was "New Thought," a philosophy that sought God through metaphysics and was wildly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. American mystic and bestselling author RALPH WALDO TRINE (1866-1958) was one of the most influential writers on New Thought principles, and here, in this 1899 book, he explains that how humanity behaves toward its fellow creatures is a measure of our own civility, or lack thereof:. how children learn kindness through the gentle treatment of animals. why fashion-in clothing, in food-cannot dictate our usage of animals. how a society's viewpoint on animals is reflected in its culture. and more.Vegetarians, animal lovers, and those seeking a closer communion with the natural world will find this a stirring work.