National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-11
PROFESSOR EDWARD s. MORSE.
HIS LECTURE LAST NIGHT AT LINCOLN
HALL.

HNH ~SOO4t LII w -dhO .. HO1hOH'
HIS LECTURE LAST NIGHT AT LINCOLN
HALL
The second lecture of Professor Edward S.
Morse, despite the brilliant attractions in social
gatherings and operate and dramatic amuse-
ments, was most handsomely attended, and all
present, on leaving the hall, expressed them
selves not only we'll entertained but richly in
structed Professor Morse does not come upon
the stage in the cold, shiyering garb Of a man
bound up in the technicalities of science. Around
his profound research and learning he has an
airy fancy, beautiful and strong in its witty
fbres and magnetic in its control. In the glow
ing and steady flame Of his lamp Of knowledge
the principles and the reasons of things clearly
seen. There is a healthy vitality in all his SEN
fences, and while they are true to the strictest
teachings Of science they are so plain that child
can understand their meaning, application and
force.
In recent comments upon art in its various
FORMS it has been the rule Of The NATIONAL Re-
TURLICAN to claim for America the foremost pO-
sltion among the nations Of the earth, and when
last evening We heard from Prof. Morse of the
results OF his deep soundings in the sea OF natural
history additional proof was guaranteed of the
proud position claimed for our country. In this
connection the mind could not help revsrting to
the fact that in astronomy we have Young and
NeWcomb, who successfully grapple with the
awful problems of the stars and interplanetary
spaces; and how all the Wondrous mystery of the
botanical world is revealed in the ever fragrant
and interesting pages Of Gray and FOrray; and
how in mineralogy the great name Of Dana
shines, how his text books are translated into
different languages, and how the splendid names
of Packard, Wyman, Leidy and Morse illuminate
the pages Of natural history; and how among the
recognized psychologists, those men who dive
down to the almost unfathomable depths of the
science of fossil remains of animals and plants,
the most brilliant records have been made by
Marsh and Cope, leaving with their newness and
research Europe far behind; and how Morse and
Henry were the pioneers in establishing the
electric harmOnics Of the world; and how all the
rare and lovely history involved in ornithology is
illustrated in the creations of Cowes, Baird and
Audubon, and all for American hOnor-its glory
and its nationality. Then why, as a nation, have
we not right to be proud? Prof. Morse was in
troduced by Mr.. Crounse, and the following is
the substance in synopsis Of
THE LECTURE.
In the first lecture Mr.. Morse illustrated the
principle OF capitalization in animals, showing
how animals, as they ascend in structure, have
their body more contracted and organs which
were before developed as legs come to subserve
the uses Of the head; that the various functions
performed by these parts increased as we ap-
preached higher forms. As for example in the
veTtebrates of fishes, the fms, which represent the
legs Of higher animals, were hardly used even
for locomOtion, that function being performed by
the tail. Gradually, however, these parts were
able to prOpel the animal, and, to come TO higher
examples, we examine the herbiVOra as the deer,
buffalo and others, and legs were simply to COM
bne organs: if they fought they used their heads
for purposes of offence and defence. The carni-
bora, step higher, used their iOre-limbs not
only for lOcOmotiOn but for holding on to things.
While in the monkeys the fOre-Imbs still as 10
comOtiYe organs, also conveyed food to the mouth;
held the young to the breast in nursing, and per-
formed variety Of functions not shown in lower
forms. Now, in man the fore-limbs are removed |
entirely from the locomotive series to subserve |
the uses of the head alone.
In his second lecture he explained another great
principle Of classification, based upon the en- |
bryOlOgy, or the steps shown in the development |
OF an animal, showing that the young of higher |
forms Tesembled the adult condition OF lower |
forms. Goethe, in 1907, and Won Baer, in 1923, |
had called attention to the fact that animals in |
their growth passed through steps from the SIM |
pie to the complex, and in this growth a creature |
first the lower forms of its class and |
finally the intermediate and higher ones He IL |
Illustrated this by drawing upon the blackboard |
the development OF the common tadpOle to its |
perfect frog state. In the young tadpOle there |
swimming by filmed tail. Gradually the legs |
develop, the tail disappears, the gills also dis
appear, lungs are formed and the creature
breathes air and assumes entire different proper
lions. He illustrated very markedly this prfnc- |
pie in the development OF birds, in which the
young bird was seen to resemble reptile so
much So indeed, that it was quite impossible to /
distinguish between young turtle and young !
bird while in the egg. Many other examples |
were cited in Illustration Of this principle.
MAN.
In speaking Of man he showed that in young
Europeans or Americans they presented certain
features that resembled the lower human races
Of to-day; for example, in the arms and legs being
Of the same length as in the L
pepuan in the forward opening and wide diver
gence OF the nostrils; in the habits Of boys also
enc has wildly recalled their resemblance to |
n Nhrfw N1nw a alt h.
club, bow and arrow and stone sling. The draw
ings they make upon the slate recalls the
rude drawings Of savages; and then as one recalls
the history Of savage tribes, how often do they
burst into tears at some slight misfortune aud /
their childish ways, All these features mean
and can only be correlated to this prn
cipIe OF classification. And then If we care TO |
monkey antics Of little boys their climbing pro-
pensities, their mischief and their mimickng |
powers. He called attention to the erroneous |
ideas OF the public in general concerning Oar. |
wins views OF the descent Of man. Darwin has /
never taught that
MAN sPRAEG FROM MONKEY,
but he simply states his belief that man and
monkey have come from some identical source.
Monkeys in their progression becoming more and
more perfected monkeys, the earlier and lower
forms dying out, while man has similarly devel-
Oped to a higher and higher state, continually /
DISCRIMINATING lever FORMS or these forms dying
cut and every age widening the point between
the two, and the question that is often asked why
q monkey, according to these principles, is not
going TO turn into man is answered in this way:
II is incOnccivab BILE that monkey is going to re-
trace the work Of ages to 90 up on this other 1
line.