, 1873-06-29
OH Gbmagp U2ibuoae.
6unesy Morning, June 20, 1873.

sunday MNT010X3 @u1l8 I9s 161os
TIE BATTLE OF TIE MABToD0Ks.
Tho controversy between the Development, O.
evolution, theory and the old school Of nntural
lists represented by Agassiz, continues to en9ros
We published some Of tho discoveries Of Prof
Marsh, Of Yale College. which that persevarinE
student thinks tend to sustain the development
theory. To-day re give place to the concluding
lecture Of Prof. Agassiz before the Museum
Of Comparative Zoology, at Cambridge, HAAS, in
which be rencwB the battle against the Dar-
ninians with the latest weapons in his arznory.
Prof Agasgiz's recent lectures hare related
to embryology-e department Of science in which,
rs an original investigator, he has no equal. It
is to his patient search that re are indebted for
tie following curious facts, viz: that the embryo
OF a reptile, before it is fully born, passes
through the form or graduation Of q fish /; that
the embryo OF 8 bird passes through gradatons
reptile, and that the human embryo
passes through three gradationB 50 closely re-
semhling fish, reptile, and bird, that it is hard
to tell them apart until the human structure, in
progress Of time, is superimposed upon it. This
remarkable fact in regard to Vnrtebrates is found
to exist also in the three other families Of the
animal kingdom, viz: Articulates, Mollusks, md
Radiates. The embryo Of each higher type in
cach family. so far rs ascertsined, passes
through gradations resembling the lower types
OF the same family.
It happens that the successive gradations
through which the vertebrate embryo passes
correspond with the appearance OF these AMI
mails on the earth in geological succession; that
is, fishes came first. reptiles next, birds ne1t,
and mammals. including man, last. From this
actual resemblance the advocates Of the dcyel-
opment theory have inferred that the several
species of each family have developed out Of
each other. It is to combat this unwa1rapted
inference that Prof Agassiz gives US the present
lecture.
That it is unsafe and unphilosophical to infer
Development theory from the foregoing facts,
Is shown by the fac. that while there is general
advance in geological succession from lower to
higher form OF organized life, and that these
facts correspond to embryo1osfcal Development
ii ID not truo that all the earlier animals were
lower than the later ones son the contrary,
many Of the lower animals were introduced un-
der more highly-organized formB than they have
ever shown since, and have dwindled after
ward" Instead Of natural law whose char
aetaz1st;c must be invariablity Of sequence, else
1t would not be E law, there are numerous and
marked contradictions aud exceptions. There
Is no inevitable repetition. There is "Just that
Kind OF resemblance in the parts, 40 much and
no more, Us always characterizes intellectual
work proceeding from the same source. It
has that freedom Of manifestation, that
Etndepondence, which characterizes the work of
mind as compared With the work Of LAW" The
development Theory, according to Prof Agsssiz
Is one OF those daring assumptions proceeding
from resemblances in nature which are well cal
cu1ated to take the mind captive and to lead to |
unwarranted generalizationa. Heconcludes With
the following explicit statement of his belief. de-
duced from profound and critical examinations |
OF nature:
heie7e that MI these corzespondenccs between the
diferc1t aspects Of animal c are the manifestations
OF mind acting consciously with intention toward one
object from beginning to end This view is in accord
aaee with the working Of minds; is IN iusnc-
tive recognition Of mental power with which opt on
10 akin, z72ni1esng itaef in 1aturc For this reason
more than any other, perhaps, do hold that this
world ct ous not the result Of the action Of
soons organic forces hut tic work Of = Intelligent.
conscious power. ::
The Development philosophers meanwhile a7e |
engaged in What they call "dllng up the gaps"
-that is, discovering in pa1oontology certain
intermediate forms of animal life between ez-
listing Terms, or between forms now extinct but
known IS fossils, and those now OK
tsting; as, for instance, between tie hog and
tue rhlnocoros, Or between the elephant and the
II Prof. Agassiz's reasoning is cor
rect,-nnd it is difficult to see rhero he
has er1ed.-there wiu still be a lnrrge
'hssm to bridge after the gaps are filed up
Eor, it the whole animal Kingdom we're shown to /
DO AZ closely allied as the monkey and the ape, it
would still be necessary to account for the buck
ward movement going on simultaneously With !
he forward movement; and, side by eide!vith
no theory Of evolution, We must construct a -
heory OF in7o1uticn. And even thsn there would :
'c still other faets of animal Life not susceptible
# explanation on the principles Of either eyolu-
ion or involution. ~ -
Prof Ae,ssslz announces Lis intention to de- l
Ter series OF lectures next autumn On geology
I'd paleontologE in reference to hedeYe1opment
heory.
TIE COUNTY HOSPITAL.
We publish elsewhere an earnest appeal from :
competent observer On the necessity Of addi- q
onal hospital accommodations in this city aud q
oanty. The fec. that Chicago is the only city II
any considerable sizo in the United States Il
hleh does not provide adequate room for the q
ck and dis:bicd poor, is sufficiently CALLING d
a f1r{t, r..4c., IL. I