The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-10
The Problem OF Human Life.

S1ATSTON. A., rcDTudID % lNci'
Editors Dispatch: ] have been STUDYING
recently new and important relglo..
scientific work. entitled the Problem OF
Human Life" by 4. Wilford Hall, IN when
the undulatory theory Of sound. as long ana
universally taught and believed, IS yigor-
ously assailed, and its chief opponents -
Tyndall, HelmholtZ. and Mayer-are Grille
ally reviewed. The author then, with an
overwhelming power Of analytical reason
ing that is scarcely equalled anywhere out
side OF Buffers Analogy, attacks the founda-
tions OF materillIsm, and scatters 10 the TOUR
wind. the theories OF evolution aud Sponta'
neous generation, rs taught by Darwin,
Huxley. IIaeckel, and Spencer.
Although the work is strictly scientific,
and a. such it Is uuquestiOnaby the most
startling and revolutionary OF the present
century, its great aim Is the denomination
Of personal God and a hereafter for hu-
manity. And when it is considered that
many Of the clergy even have not seemed
able 10 defend themselves against the as
saulis Of these modern scientific intidelS,
and others. including no les eminent d.
vines than the Rev. DR.. McCO>h and Rev.
joseph Cook. and the distinguished Pro-
fcs.or Asa GRAY, have showed "the white
feather" and seek TO compromise upon the
peurilc theory Of "Tbeistic Evolution ;"
(which j. simply Dlrwni'm with the pur-
poseless feature left OUT: and when no
trlfling percentage OF the educated part o.
the religious world have been alarmed at
their own helpIeSsuesS, this Look should,
and will. be hailed with delight by Chris
tian people everywhere.
The success Of the authors attack upon
modern atheism does not depend solely
upon that Of his argument against the long
accepted theory OF sound. OF his cOnclu-
sions II regards the latter, | do not write
either 10 approve or di>apprOve, but to call
the attention OF physical investigators to
them as new, interesting, startling. and >in-
gularIy plausible, and which ii correct
make this book one OF The most important
additions TO scientific pOlemics ri this age.
f. i singular that although this treatise
has for some TIME been in the hands OF Tyn-
Dali, HelmholtZ. Haeckcl. &c, not single
line in the way OF an attempt ~ reply has
vet been seen from them. In fact. Mr. H..
l.. Brcckett. professor Of Natural Sciences
i'm the Western Mary land College. i the only
man who has bad the temcrily thus far TO
undertake 4 rciula'I0u of the author :,
views. even upon the subject OF sound.
But here. Il In the case OF the cyolutOnl>'S.
The Professors bcayir.t guns were turned
with destructive force against himself. COM
plelely demc>hiug his theories. The au-
thOi's rtiOinder was absolutely Oyerwhelm-
ing.
The silence Of the eminent scientific men
whose doctrines nave been as>ailtd cannot
be construed to imply that this remarkable
book i, regarded by them A. unworthy OF no.
ticc for il has already been Internationally
endorsed by not few professors OF Physics
i'm northern and western colleges, II well ~
by many OF the most learned diNines i'm all
part> of the country.
But whether it shall tuln out that the
wayc-thtOry of sound has seen IT. day or
not. certain ii Is that \. WilfOrd Halls
achievement, H. against evolution, and ma
ieriali>m in all it, prOtean manifestations, l.,
a marvel. The Rev. DR.. Balsbaugh says OF
it :" II leaves no escape TO the atheist from
The massive accumulation Of facts and the
luminous evolution and OyerpOwcrlnG APP
pIication OF principles in which it abounds
from lid to lid. 1t i the literary chef dOUrre
OF the age. Read II, ponder it, and you Will
thank God for a teacher who has 80 sublime
~ yindcatcd an intelligent first cause, the
Irvine authenticity OF the Bible, and the
immortality Of our spiritual organism
This Is the glory Of the book: it is not
only scientific, but it is essentially, eminent
~ Christian.
beg TO call the attention OF our physical
vcsugators 10 this work simply IN the in
terc>, Of truth. Ii. ;. IL.