Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-04
"sEuInan Developments"

Prof Swallow delivered i lecture recently, 10
Portland, on the origin Of the species, from
which we take the following, as reported IN the
New York Times
We have tocrable history Of man since his
appearance in the world, and we may date his
Introduction from near the beginning OF the
Drift pcriod-a period sufficient for any possible
departure from original types. The advocates
of the development theory themselves make the
period of human existence of quarter OF Il mil
lion to half million years, yet no one claims
that we find any more evidence OF the monkey
among these prmcvnl men than we do among
the present races. The evidence on this point Is
conclusive. The oldest skull yet toucd in Eu-
rope, the oldest Of human remains is simply =
good Caucasian skull, and Prof Huxley himself
says: There is no mark of degradation about
any part of it; structure. 1t IL u fair average
human skull, which might have belonged To a
philosopher"
Again, the oldest skull found III Amcrlca, So
fur ms | know-about which there can be no
question that It's possessor was contemporary Win
the carly mound builders, the elephant and
mastodon-wss found in a large mound in New
Madrid county, Mo, incosed in all inverted
earthen pot, resting upon m ancient dirt toor
in an apartment of the mound which contained
the altar and the churred remains Of many VIC
tins. The skull was taken from a dcpth or
thirty feet below the undisturbed surface OF the
mound, which WAS covered Win VeScLaOic sou
two feet deep, and on which were growing the
olden trees Of II primitive forest; the stumps and
fallen logs still older, were dccayng. This rel
ic Of the earliest Americans is small, perfectly
preserved, thin, of line texture, oval rather than
eliipticai, and belonged to beautiful woman
This mound was built on second bench Of the
Mississippi and about six feet of alluvlal matter
had been deposited since it Was deserted. In the
bank Of n creek near, and apparently III the
same formation that had been deposited around
the mound, was found the tooth Of mastodon.
Other skulls have been found Of inferior struc-
ture and great antiquity, but absolutely noh
ing to show that man was less developed then
than now. The historical record give no lndl-
cations Of mans physical development from the
monkey, even during the half million Of years he
is supposed TO have existed on the earth Mr..
Darwin appeals to the illimitabc geological
cycles He admits of primorIa organisms to
start with Cuvicr's argument from the animals
and plants f und embalmcd in ancient Egyptian
tombs more than neutraizes the conclusions
dawn from modern changes.
The tendency of improved breeds OF domestic
animals to return to tGelr original form Was adj
duccd, MS showing the natural stability Of types
The theory implies development! in the ascend
ing rather than in the descending serles-up
opinion that the downward is the natural tend
ency This is true Of cultivated species The
cereals fruits, dogs horses, all deterorate unless
special efforts are made to keep them up. 1t Is
)ubtful if fossils show any signs Of Improvement
they may seem TO have improved for n time,
but it WAS only to degenerate and perish The
same law pertains tolhe human family. Races,
nations, clans, families rise and fall according
to Tho SHINE law