The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-04-01
Origin Of Races.

The average audience only was present TO hear
Prof. Cummings lecture at the Court House or
Thursday evening on the "Orig.n Of Races and
Civilization" to our mind the most interesting
of the course. Human nature, the Professor
said, is not the same the world over. There is
vast difference between the intelligent, inqur-
ing, go.ahead Englishm an or American and the
conservative, lazy, good for'nothing Turk. Are
these differences primal or are they induced!
The general rule 10 that the color of animals
and birds, etc, depends on their habitat; and 81
il would seem does the color Of man. II In the
animal and bird these characteristics are primal,
analogy would say they were SO in man. Agas
siz has discovered that there are great zones Of
human life with corresponding zones Of animal
life The negro Of Africa is associated with the
black monkey and gorilla; the olive oriental is
associated with the lighter ourang, etc. The
professor says there are two great branches OF
the human family, the white, civilized, prcgres-
sive races, springing. it would seem, FROM the
ourans; the other, the black, olive. inferior and
uncivilized races, or race OF dead civilization,
from the gorilla, and he said there were connect
ing links between the ourang and the gorills-
The white, or Aryan race, would seem to be the
oldest-their characteristics being found in the
oldest skulls. There were many intermediate
races between the white and inferior races, but
the tendency is for these intermediate stages
to die out and leave the extremes.
The first men in the originally civilized parts
Of the world were pitted against great strength,
ferocity, speed, cunning. This was the age
OF body forming, and the South Africans, SUI
rounded by animals with these characteristics,
were the models of muscular men. In Austra-
liza and elsewhere, where no such animals ever
existed, the natives have ever been a low, miser-
able, degraded races. Thus the first gate tow
ard civilization was opened in western ASIA Al
RIGA, Peru, etc. when manihad grown TO combat
successfully with animal life, he began to tame
it, and become shepherd; and only where mar
has tanned the beast was or is he civilized. Thu,
the second gate to civilization was opened 70
man inwestern Asia, and be tanned the camel,ete.,
and in Peru, where be tanned the Lama, etc, tht
area is contracting This is the age OF minu
building. As the shepherd lay watching Dr.
nocks he began TO study nature and things ne
yond him. Thus the grand science OF Astrono-
my was fret discovered by the shepherds OF the
plains Of Bahylonia. But TO become perfect,
man must become a granger and cultivate the
soil. This WAS only done in perfection In west
ern Asia and Peru, the two great ceaters OF CIV
ilization. Thus by being hunter, shepherd,
a granger. man became civilized, By throwins
off the animal and becoming su6duer OF the
earth, be became creator, and by the aid Of
chemistry he prepares to make for himself hi
flowers, or the perfumes OF flowers, his meats,
everything almost. In conclusion he said man
had done much for himself, he had gained
much knowledge, but still a mountain of pro
gress was above him yet to be climbed, and where
will progression ende'