, 1877-08-18
4 0EIllIsVisgi icntcSl.
Commencement OrEEsr.

that life, Nuimal and ycgetablr.y oriyi-
mated primarily at tile poles, in opposi.
ton 10 the theory that all life originated
at the tropics Both Of these theories
have much to render them plausible. But
Geology, Astronomy and that branch Of
comparative Anatomy which relates to
vegetable aud animal fossils demon.
stralc the ihcorrcctnrss of both of these
theories.
The writer alluded to above, in at.
tempting to prove that life originated ut
the poles. hnsrs his Nrgum,nt upon the
nuuu'ous theory Of astronomers and the
well known inrandrscent state which all
lesser planets pass through, alter being
thrown Of from larger spheres. The
gradual cooling OF the earth, its conse
qucnt shrinking from the crystalizltion
OF The particles of such elements us
freeze at high temperatures, would first
fit that portion OF the earth tor life that
Was least exposed to solar heat, and as
that portion is well known to be the
poles, hu draws the conclusion, that, as
the process Of crystalization continued,
the temperature at the poles was gradu.
ally reduced until ii became, as at pres
unt, too low to sustain life, such as now
prevails at the tropics Thus it will be
seen, according to his theory, the life
belt commenced ut the poles and gradu-
ally moved toward the equator
Had such been the case, the fossil re-
mains Mt the poles, would be identical
With the animal aud vegetable life ut
present found ut the equator; which is
not the case. True, the polar fossils
indicate tropical climate, during some
past era, but they differ greatly from
lie found generally at the tropics in the
modern age. And hud the change MS
he labors to prove, been as gradual AS
the slow process OF the ealths cryslaliza-
tion, and the development Of life, animal
and vegetable life would have gradually
moved to the temperate zones first, and
finally to the tropics, little if any
changed, and present lite all over the
globe, would correspond with ancient
remains at the poles.
These fossils indicate sudden
change. They are found in such mum
bprs, all in nearly the same state OF pres
ervation, and differing materially from
present forms OF life, in fact everything
goes to establish the truth, that all life
ut the poles, was overtaken and de-
stroyed by II sudden geological change,
induced us we shall see, by and by, by
IN astronomical revolution affecting, not
only our earth and system, but many
other solar planets and their satellites.
The theory that in accumulations at
the poles beng sometimes greater III one
pole than the other, would cause n
sudden lateral motion of the earth sutii-
cient to change the equator, is hardly
plausible; because, the poles being
equidistant from the equator, the ice
formations would be so nearly equal that
no sudden change OF any moment would
Ue likely to occur from such cause.
No doubt the earth's axis has been
shifted many times, from causes proceed
ing from internal Convulsions. A varia-
.tion of the present inclination OF the
axis of the earth caused from within, or
from some change in planetary attrac-
tion, would produce change in the loca-
tion of and in the forms of life on the
globe,
Assuming the nebulous theory correct,
which tho writer does not question, and
that the various pianets OF our system
were thrown of one ut time, the largest
and most distant first, may we not rea-
sonably account for the evident geologi-
cal changes, in part at least, as attendant
phenomina upon the formation of new
planets, and the varied forms OF life, as
indicated by fossil remains, 8 natural
sequence of these numerous geological
changes.
If the earth was to throw off another
satellite at the present time, it would be
accompanied with convulsions and geo
logical changes sufficient to modify, ii
.,,,,t &c rst uttorlv dostrnv all life and then