The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-15

pedigree. next to the semi-apes he would place
the oldest and lowest catarhines which grew
out OF tho former. by the formation Of the char
acteristic catarhine head. and by the peculiar
modification OF teeth. nose. and brain. Ths
oldest parent forms Of tho whole catarhine
group were already in existence during the
earlier part OF the tertiary epoch (the eooene
period) as Ia proved by fossil remains. This
progenitor retained its tail and in the next or
second stage we must rank the taiess apes.
or so-called anthropoids. under which name
the most highly organized of existing cata-
rhinos have been classified. These we're dis
tlnguished. not only by the loss OF the
tail. but also by the partial disappearance
Of their hairy covering and the further de-
velopment OF tho brain the latter Indicated
10y the expansion OF the cerebral skull over
tho facial structure But few forms Of this re-
markable family are in existence. Two African
species are well known-tho gorilla largest OF
all apes, first discovered and described by
Hanno In his "Periplus;' and the smaller
chimpanzee-both black in color. and like their
countrymen. the negroes. having the head long
from back TO front. Contrariwse. the Asiatio
man-iko apes-tho ourang and the gibbon-aro
mostly Of brown or yeowish brown color. and
short-headed like their countrymen, the Malays
and Mongols. Neither OF these living anthro-
pOlhb ctn w ub hbt dbSpluAclD
most like man. The gorilla approaches near
est to him in the structure OF tho head and foot
tho chimpanzee in structural details OF the
skull the ouranR In the development ofthe brain.
and the gbbon In that Of the thorax. II Is plain.
however, that no single one OF these existing
man like apes can be identified with the direct
ancestors OF the human race. They are rather
the last scattered remnants OF an old catarhine
branch from which the human race has devel-
oped rs a special branch. and in q special di-
rection.
Although tho homo Is ranked Immediately
next to this anthropoid family. yet our author
thinks the ape-man should be inserted here. rs
an intermediate type between the two, forming
tho third sub-stage in our ancestral series.
This na,ro no would apply to the speechless
primitive men. who made their appearance in
what is usually called the human form. having
that is. thug general anatomic al structureo OF man.
| yet destitute OF one most important quality
| namely, nrticulate speech. ms well M Of the
higher mental development connected with that
faculty. Tho ape-men he thinks. were already
| in existence toward the close OF the tertiary
epoch. during the pliocene age. perhaps even
as early as tho mioccno period. Finally. the
| genuine. or speaking human being. he would
station at the fourth and ultimate graduation
In our pedigree from the semi-apcs. The
veriablc man was differentiated 10y the gradual
| Improvement OF inarticulate animal sounds
| into true articulate speech. Only very uncer-
tain conieciures can be formed rs to the time
and place Of this decisive creation OF man. II
is Haeckels opinion thatthe prmeyal anthropos
originated during the diluvial epoch in the tor
| rid zons Of the old world either on the continent
| OF tropical Asia or Africa or more probably on
| an earlier continent. which has now sunk below
| the surface Of the Indian Ocean. but which once
stretched from Madagascar and Abyssinia
| to the Sunda Islands and Farther India In =
previous work. the Natural History Of Crea-
ton." our author discussed at length the strik-
ing evidence rs TO the former existence OF this
large continent called Lemuria. aud how the
| distribution Of tho various species and races OF
men probably took place from this " Paradise "
over the surface Of the earth.
In view Of the evidence marshalled in this vol
ume. 1t is submitted by our author that feeling.
rather than understanding. prompts people to
combat the theory OF their descent from apes.
| IL is because the organism Of our anthropoid
| kindred appears caricature Of man. ~ gro
| tesdue and distorted likeness. because our
| aesthetic ideas and habitual self Qualification
are touched in so sensitive n point that most of
us shrink from recognizing our veritable gem
esis. just as Greek and Roman vanity natterod
| itself by tracing back its lineage to gods and
| demi- gods. and Just rs the majority Of men In
our own day would rather draw their being
from a decayed baron. or. II possible from a
celebrated prince. rather than from an I'M
| known. humble peasant. so We prefer 10 see tho
progentor of the human race in an Adam de-
graded by the fall rather than in an ape capable
OF superb development and unreasonable pro
Rress. Looking from his starting point to his
| achievement may we not discern a splendid sig
nilcance in the eulogy pronounced on man
thus descended" the paragon Of animals the
beauty OF tho world. noble in reason, infinite
in faculty. in action how like an angel. ia ap-
prehension how like "a god"
In his final chapter. Prof. Haecke adj
verts to the bearing Of anthropogeny. and il
conclusions summed in the doctrine Of evolu.
ton. upon the philosophical study Of the
universe. For his own part. he does
not doubt that the facts collected IN
these volumes. II weighed and Judged with
out prejudice. must give n decisive victory L
that tendency which we describe as monistic OF
mechanical in distinction from the dualistic OF
telcological on which most systems Of ancien
and modern times are based. This mechanica
or monistic philosophy cannot countenance III,
popular distinction between nature and spirit
1t asserts that everywhere tho phenomena o
human life. no less than those Of external ma
ture, are under the control Of fixed and unal
torable laws. That there is everywhere a nee
essary cause aud connection between phenom
ena, and that accordingly the whole know
able universe forms an undivided whole
" monon." The opponents Of the doctrine
Of evolution brand the monistic phlosophl
grounded upon il rs materinlism. but strict,
speaking. the system might ~ accurately b.
called spiritunsm, Monism" can as litt
believe in force without matter as in matte
without force. and Goethe caught its point o
view when he wrote. Matter can never cxis
and act without spirit neither can spirit with
ont matter" In this view the spirit" an,
mind" Of man are but functions indissolub
connected with the substance OF our bodies 1t /
true that this philosophical materaism ha
, awakened apprehensions in many quarters
, which find. perhaps. their most complete an
eloquent oppression in the essays lately pub
, Iished by ". II. Malock under the suRRestiv
title. Is Life Worth Living" II is feare
that the logical deductions from tho sccn
, tihc definition OF mans place In natur
, will cause dismal retrogression in tn
intellectual and moral posture OF the hu
man race. II Is Haeckel's conviction thu
the precise contrary will be true That by TIA
new philosophy. tho progressive dovclopmer
3 OF humanity will be enlightened aud stimu